Eight inmates of the Kaduna Correctional Centre were allegedly killed
by prison officials after they engaged in a protest at the facility.
It was reported that on Tuesday, March 31, inmates engaged in a
riot over a rumoured suspected case of COVID-19 at the facility (read here). The
prisoners demanded to be released from the congested centre following
claims of an awaiting trial inmate infecting two other inmates with
Coronavirus. They feared that they could contract Coronavirus and die
due to the overcrowded nature of cells and poor ventilation system in
the facility.
The misunderstanding was resolved and calm was restored.
However, SaharaReporters has reported that 8 inmates were killed the
following day, April 1, for leading the protest and the authorities are
trying to cover up the incident.
The publication reports that a day after the unrest, at 12pm on April
1, “prison waders went from cell to cell ordering inmates presumed to
be ringleaders of the protest to come out.” When they came out, the
allegedly shot some and tortured others.
Those killed are Hammed Abdullahi, Lucky Ugokama, Ibrahim Abukabar
aka Baba Lolo, Yahu Salisu, Elvis Wisdom Adekpe, Lucky Njoku, Oluchukwu
Oche also known as ‘No Witch’, and Ibrahim Abdullahi, while Ogume Osifo
Osarome is in critical condition after being severely tortured.
A top source in the correctional facility told SaharaReporters: “One
Hammed Abdullahi was shot in the stomach by a prison guard, he died
immediately.
“Yahu Salisu was shot in the buttocks while Ibrahim Abdullahi died of torture.
“Lucky Njoku was beaten to death by prison guards, he died of the wounds inflicted on him.
“Ibrahim Abubakar died yesterday too from the beatings he received from the prison guards.”
The publication adds that when they contacted Muhammad Jalige,
spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, on the issue, he said
it was “an internal problem between staff and inmates” of the
correctional facility.
International rights group, Amnesty International has called for an
investigation into the alleged jailbreak as well as the decongestion of
all prisons nationwide by the Nigerian Government.