IPOB inmates compound prison logistics challenges – ACG

The already challenging logistics situation of the Nigeria Prisons has been compounded by the 100 Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members in its zone E custody.

Speaking yesterday at the Abia State headquarters Mission Hill Umuahia after a meeting with the officers of the command, the Assistant Comptroller General Zone E, Dr Alloy Uchenwa, said, “it was a miracle yesterday how we were able to convey 100 IPOB members to court.”

Uchenwa who said he was in Abia State as part of his routine inspection of facilities in commands under his zone, identified logistics as one of the major challenges of the prisons, and called on individuals, organisations and governments to assist the zone with logistics.

The zone E prison boss called for building of more prison cells to ease the challenge of overcrowding, saying that a situation where cells for 500 inmates were occupied by 1000 was not right.

He disclosed that in his meeting with the Abia State Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Chief Ume Kalu (SAN) he raised the issue of prison decongestion with a promise from him to expedite trial of cases.

Uchenwa commended Abia prison command for the improvements recorded since his last visit, saying that of particular interest was the reform which had helped the inmates to enroll in classes which has helped most of them to write WASCE even as others were taking courses in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). “I was excited to see some of them making quality coffins,” he said.