The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service has debunked the alleged deaths in its facility of eight inmates due to hunger or under-feeding.
This was contained in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Rabiu Mohammed Shuaibu, in Minna.
Shuaibu, who said no inmate died in any of the command’s correctional facilities as a result of underfeeding, described the purported deaths of eight inmates by some media reports as totally false, ill-motivated and aimed at causing panic in society.
According to him: “The command wishes to clearly state that, there was no single death recorded in any of its facilities as a result of underfeeding. For a reason best known to the writer, he could not verify his claim before dishing out the story to the public, which has created unnecessary panic in society.”
He explained that the feeding ratio of inmates has never been compromised in the correctional facilities, despite the current economic hardship and hike in the prices of food items.
Shuaibu noted: “The Nigeria Correctional Service appreciates the commitment of the federal and state governments, the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, and the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Fatima Umar Mohammed Bago, towards providing enhanced welfare for inmates.”
The statement also disclosed that the correctional facilities have functional water tankers that supply adequate water daily to inmates.
It stated: “Moreso, the service treats all inmates in its custody with the best standard in line with global practice, and as such, no inmate goes out to fetch water outside the facility, as claimed in the fabricated story.”
The statement then urged journalists to verify their claim before rushing to the press, imploring them to always join hands with the service to ensure peace and security in the country.