One of the worst places to be is in prison. It is filled with both innocent and people who are guilty of different crimes.
image courtesy Nigerian Prison
One of the main challenges in most Nigerian prisons is the overcrowding of prisoners.
This year, 2022, 75% of Nigerian prisoners are awaiting trial. This makes it to a total of 51,000 prisoners.
Image courtesy BBC
According to BBC, an ineffective justice system has led to severe overcrowding.
However, that is not the only problem. Most of the prisoners are always mistreated. Patrick Moses, a former Nigerian prisoner narrated to BBC how prison officials are wicked and mistreating inmates. Some don’t get to see the next day. The prisoners are forced to sleep with dead bodies till the next day. Patrick added that most prison wardens have no conscience.
Photo courtesy
Nonetheless, Patrick was arrested for a crime he never committed. He stayed on remand for six years without trial. The human rights group came later to his rescue and he was released.
On the other hand, the authorities admitted that there is congestion but there was no abuse of prisoners. They further denied the systemic corruption within the prison.
The authority is planning on improving the criminal justice system.
Consequently, it might be too late for those that lost their lives or those that lost their loved ones.
Also, read Inside World’s Most Protected And Worst Prisons
Alex Odita, controller of correctional service, River Estate denied the abuse and corruption claims. He said that most inmates die in either teaching hospitals or government hospitals.
