Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Nigerian prison or Correctional Centres, as it is known today, was introduced by the British during the time when Nigeria was her colony (1861-1960).
The British left a two-tier system (Native and Federal) prisons which became unified into one prison system in 1968.
While The Nigeria Police Force is the principal law enforcement and the lead security agency in Nigeria. Designated by the 1999 constitution as the national police of Nigeria with exclusive jurisdiction throughout the country, as at 2016 it has a staff strength of about 371,800.
There are currently plans to increase the force to 650,000, adding 280,000 new recruits to the existing 370,000. The Nigeria Police Force is a very large organisation consisting of 36 State commands and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) grouped into 17 zones and 8 administrative organs.
The agency is currently headed by IGP (Inspector General) Usman Allkali
These two agencies are meant to change the Society by converting crimes and reforming Criminals through different Strategies.
Police Stations in Nigerian turn to be the beehive of corruption and extortion .
The Cells where suspects are detained in both Police Stations and Prisons or Correctional Centres is a source of Concern in terms of hygiene and and psychological well being
Africa Press Investigation in some Police Stations in Kano and Kaduna States reveals that the hygienic condition of Hotoro and Farawa Police Cells in Kano Metropolis is very worst
Also Ci Kaji Police Station in Sabo Gari Zaria of Kaduna State is a real dead zone for the detainees.
Prisons or Correctional Centres is also a Centres is a place expected to be more organise as inmates expect to be rehabilitated
Morally ,Psychologically and health wise.
Kano Central Prison is a 700 Capacity facility but at the time I visited the Centre there was more than One thousand five hundred inmates excluding the condemned
Prisoners.
The situation of the cells is dangerous to the health of human beings especially the Cell the refer as well come cells .
The toilets are in a shamble Conditions , the mattress are not there ,inmates are sleeping on a bear floor , food for the inmates is also source of Concern as three inmates are given a small take away container of jolluf rice during Ramadan break fast as a mill for 24 hours (a day).
Another issue of Concern at the Kano Central Correction Centre is keeping minors inmate as we confirmed.
Ahmad Ahmad is a awaiting trial Inmate from Hotoro Upper Sharia Court detained in Kurmawa Correctional Centre for two days in April 2022.
In an effort to balance this report Africa Press reporter in Kano Contacted Police Public Relation officer Abdullahi Kiyawa .
The PPRO said comment on the matter is beyond his capacity as he refer us to the National PRO which we could get up to the time of filing this report.
While on the other hand our correspondent visited the headquarters of Kano Correctional Centre were the PRO of the agency Musbahu K’ofar Nasarawa directed that we Should send our Questions via what’s up which there was no respond for more than a week.
All in an effort to do justice on matter this medium contacted the Public Relation officer of Kàno Judiciary (High Court) Baba Jibo Ibrahim .
He said one of the responsibility of Court is to granty liberty and maintains the rule of law.
I”f you look at the People remanded by the Court are those in awaiting trials and the rational behind that is to help Police in Investigation activities or prevent the suspect from escaping the trial or inter paring with investigation or obstructing the course of justice”
“Also the administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) has provides provisions on how our Justice can help in decongestion of Prisons”
Baba Jibo added that there is non custodial system a strategy used by Kano Courts in decongesting Prisons.
The High Court PRO said the chief registrar of the Sharia Court in Kano State has give directive that no court should receive more than five first Information Report from Police.
And it should contain the relevant section of law for alleged offence.
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