The House of Representatives has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the recent prison attacks in Nigeria.
The call comes after a motion was adopted by Rep Kabiru Alhassan Usman Rurum from Kano State, highlighting the alarming trend of incessant attacks on custodial facilities and frequent escape of inmates.
According to Rurum, Nigeria has witnessed approximately 17 jailbreaks between September 2015 and July 2023, resulting in over 7,000 escapees.
The recent rainstorm incident in Niger State, which led to the escape of 118 inmates, has further exposed the vulnerability of the nation’s correctional centers.
The House has mandated the Committees on Interior and Reformatory Institutions to interface with relevant federal agencies to constitute threat management in correctional centers and collate data of inmates by enrolling them in the National Identity Number system.
The lawmakers emphasized the need for upgraded prison facilities with better security, armed guards, and modern equipment to detect security breaches and prevent further attacks. They warned that the escape of criminals back into society poses a significant threat to national security and stringent actions must be taken to avoid further incidents.
The resolution demonstrates the House’s commitment to addressing the pressing issue of prison security and ensuring the safety of both inmates and citizens. By establishing a judicial panel of inquiry, the government aims to identify the root causes of these attacks and implement effective measures to prevent future occurrences.
