BY FOLASHADE KEHINDE
THE Federal Government has declared zero tolerance for attacks on Custodial Centres across the country, saying anyone who dares to attack the facilities, going forward should not live to regret it.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, told personnel of the Nigeria Correctional Service to lawfully deploy weapons at their disposal for maximum effect against invasion.
He said they were empowered by the highest authority in the land to use every means necessary to defend the custodial centres against internal and external aggression.
Aregbesola spoke at an emergency meeting with NCoS Squadron Commanders, Field Commanders and Heads of Armed Squads.
He commended the Commanders for their efforts so far and disclosed that some of those who recently escaped from prison had been rearrested.
He however cautioned them against trafficking which he said was one way through which criminals invaded the facilities, having known that they could smuggle contraband into the facilities.
The minister said, “Our Custodial Centres must be red zones. It is a quarantine centre for those who by law should not live among free men. When a person is declared unfit to relate with other humans, it is the duty of the authorities to guarantee it.
“We are with you absolutely to make our Custodial Centres inviolable. Attacks on centres is no longer a happenstance. There is a pattern now and we can no longer give any excuse to allow these attacks to succeed. I was at the Owerri centre when we were told about the circumstances surrounding that attack and the question someone asked was, where are the casualties?
“If this meeting must make any meaning at all, you will be held absolutely responsible going forward for any attack on our custodial facilities. I asked representatives of the advanced nations about how it works and they told me a custodial centre is a fortress and a sacred facility that nobody should even have the temerity to attack, not to talk of succeeding at attacking. So the current security challenges are just being used as a cover. A pattern is fast emerging and we must take it as such.”
He added, “Well, we must commend you for your professionalism, diligence and sacrifice in the performance of your duties. We appreciate you but the line must be drawn where you say enough is enough, where nobody can cross, to dare or to attempt to break our will.
“I am aware of your yeoman’s job in foiling attacks, particularly jailbreaks. I must commend you for your brilliance in Ikoyi, Bauchi, Ubiaja and Kano recently.
“The custodial facilities are a symbol of the authority of the Nigerian State. They are sacred and inviolable institutions. You will notice that they are usually built around military fortresses, to show how important they are. This is to deter would-be attackers from inside or outside.”
Aregbesola said, more importantly, the NCoS personnel were armed and positioned to directly guard the facilities and defend their integrity.
He stated, “Your mission is to defend the facilities at all costs. Let me repeat again, defend them at all costs.
“You are empowered by the highest authority in the land to use every means necessary to defend the custodial centres against internal and external aggression. The weapons you carry and the instrument you have are to be lawfully deployed for maximum effect, in protecting the facilities. Anyone or group of persons that decide(s) to attack them should not live to regret it.
“You must not fail because failure means you have contributed to the insecurity in the land by allowing criminals to invade society. This begins with vigilance. You must be on the watch for any instrument or material that could aid criminals in perpetuating jailbreaks. Again, earlier this month, vigilant officers stopped one of their colleagues from smuggling a mobile phone to an inmate in Bauchi.”
According to him, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for inmates to break from inside without receiving assistance from officers, no matter how little.
“Never again must a successful attack happen on any of our custodial facilities, not even in our farms. Whoever attempts it must simply regret it. By the time you make it almost a life and death matter when you attempt a custodial facility, that will be the end of such attack,” he said.
“Some of the escaped inmates from Edo have been rearrested for murder, another crime. There was a particular case that immediately he escaped from the centre in Edo, he went straight and killed all those he said facilitated his initial arrest. Luckily, he has now been arrested and faces a double jeopardy, one for escape from lawful custody and two, for murder,” the Minister said.
