By Ishaya Ibrahim
Acting News Editor
Longstanding grouse over poor staff welfare and inadequate structures both transformed into an Achilles’ heel that led to the jailbreak in Koton Karfe Prison in Kogi State on July 30.
The plethora of complaints and inadequacies tipped over with the alleged diversion of N240 million voted for its renovation in 2014, which would have prevented the breakouts for which the facility is notorious.
Thirteen inmates escaped in the latest episode, the fourth in five years.
Fifteen inmates also bolted from Nsukka Prison in Enugu State on Tuesday, August 10, which a source blamed on the incompetence and laxity of prison officers.
Besides, the prison lacks modern facilities.
The inmates reportedly broke their cells and climbed over the perimeter fence. Prison officials on night duty did not know what happened.
Nsukka Prison Controller, Lawrence Okonkwo – who reports to Enugu State Controller of Prisons, Isaiah Amariri – promised that the inmates would be arrested.
A senior prison official told TheNiche that “there are no prisons in Nigeria, so to say. Going by what we see outside the country, Nigeria has refused to upgrade its prisons since independence.”
Koton Karfe Prison itself is a weak, uncompleted structure in a bushy area. It has no accommodation for wardens, exposing them to the peril of ambush.
On June 28, 2015, TheNiche reported that paramilitary officers petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari that former Interior Minister, Abba Moro, allegedly diverted the funds meant for prison renovation.
They alleged that Moro collected N240 million meant for the completion of Koton Karfe Prison and commissioned the project in 2014 without the work being done.
The officers submitted that if Buhari was sincere about his change slogan, Moro’s activities must be accounted for, and the best way to change Nigeria was to demonstrate that certain conduct was not acceptable.
Dambazau plays the ostrich
A fortnight ago, Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) Controller General, Ahmed Jafaru, convened a meeting of his senior officers on the embarrassing jailbreak.
Those in attendance included Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazau, officers in charge of prisons, state controllers, and zonal controllers.
Three jailbreaks have occurred under Jafaru’s watch – one in Kuje Prison in Abuja where two murder suspects escaped; one in Koton Karfe; and one in Nsukka.
Six of the 13 inmates who escaped from Koton Karfe have been arrested, seven are under the radar.
Sources said six of the escapees from Nsukka Prison have also been arrested.
At the meeting that reviewed the Koton Karfe incident, Dambazau blamed prison officers for the breakout. Other sources at the meeting said he scolded them for not being serious enough with their job.
He reportedly told the prison officers that although they were working under difficult condition, it was no excuse for them to play with their jobs, warning that dereliction of duty would no longer be tolerated.
Dambazau, however, ignored the fundamental issue of the rickety structure which housed the dangerous prisoners.
Officers fire back
After Dambazau left the meeting with officers highly demoralised, some poured out their hearts to Jafaru and others murmured.
They said Koton Karfe Prison is located in the bush without wall protection, reiterating that it is an uncompleted building allegedly hurriedly commissioned by Moro to cover up the diversion of the huge sums he collected for it.
The officers said it is a nightmare to be on duty at Koton Karfe Prison because of its vulnerability to outside attack, and poor protection against jailbreak.
They said keeping prisoners there is a poor policy, as it does not have all the basic facilities expected to be found in a functional prison.
Porous Koton Karfe Prison
Koton Karfe Prison has history of jailbreaks.
On February 12, 2011, suspected Boko Haram members attacked the prison and freed 119 inmates.
In December 2012 and June 2013, there were reports that many inmates of the prison “simply vanished overnight”, disclosed an attorney, Patryk Utulu, a Nigerian based in the United States.
He said the prison authority initially denied it, but later admitted that “some inmates were unaccounted for due to renovation works.”
On November 2, 2014, he recalled, attackers again broke through the prison wall to free all 145 inmates.
He added that for over three hours, they operated unchallenged, and had the time to vandalise the prison record office as well as the chief warden’s office where they ate six loaves of bread and took soft drinks.
Sources said the dilapidated condition of Koton Karfe Prison made the government under former President Goodluck Jonathan to approve the contract for its complete renovation.
Dire state of Nigerian prisons
The officers bemoaned conditions in Nigerian prisons at the meeting with Jafaru.
They complained about
Poor water supply.
Unhealthy sanitary facilities.
A lack of escort duty vehicles.
One functional mini Black Maria conveying awaiting trial inmates to attend 90 different courts.
Non availability of funds to repair and fuel vehicles.
Most prisons being in darkness at night because there is no power supply.
Zero motivation
The officers also lamented that morale among wardens is low, with many stagnated on a rank while unqualified ones get promoted because they have godfathers.
They also complained that those who got promoted in 2015 have not been paid their promotion salary arrears or the salaries of their new ranks.
No response from NPS
NPS Public Relations Officer, Francis Enabore, did not respond to telephone calls seeking his reaction to the stories. He also did not reply to a text message at press time.
Chronicle of jailbreaks in Koton Karfe Prison
February 12, 2011. Suspected Boko Haram members attacked the prison and freed 119 inmates.
December 2012 and June 2013. Many inmates of the prison “simply vanished overnight”.
November 2, 2014. Attackers broke through the prison wall to free all 145 inmates.
They vandalised the prison record office and the chief warden’s office where they ate six loaves of bread and took soft drinks.
July 30, 2016. Thirteen inmates escaped in another attack.
General condition of Nigerian prisons
Poor water supply.
Unhealthy sanitary facilities.
A lack of escort duty vehicles.
One functional mini Black Maria conveying awaiting trial inmates to attend 90 different courts.
Non availability of funds to repair and fuel vehicles.
Most prisons being in darkness at night because there is no power supply.
