COVID-19: Prison Inmates, Detainees in Police, Military Facilities at Risk – Amnesty International
Amnesty International has called on the Federal Government to take immediate actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in correctional and detention centres.
The human rights group said inmates and detainees at police and military facilities across the country were at risk of contracting the coronavirus disease “as they are held in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions that can be even more deadly in the hot weather.”
The Nigeria Correctional Service had informed the media on Wednesday, that the necessary measures had been taken to protect inmates, including suspension of visits, restriction of contact between officials and inmates and non-admission of new inmates.
The service also explained that it had isolation centres where sick inmates are kept for observation.
But AI in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, stated, “Kaduna Correctional Centre which has capacity for only 473 inmates, now has 1,480 prisoners while Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre with capacity for 638, now has 2,077 prisoners.
“The Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre has capacity for only 804 but currently has 4,576 locked up. Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos has capacity for only 500 prisoners but now accommodates 1,601 prisoners.”
It noted that the Tuesday unrest at the Kaduna Correctional Centre was as a result of the reported death of a prisoner, which triggered panic among other inmates about the spread of COVID-19.
“Congestion in Nigerian prisons is staggering and a threat to the lives of prisoners, especially at this time that requires social distancing to prevent the rapid spread of the disease,” Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho noted.
She added, “Even in the midst of a global health crisis, the Nigerian authorities must protect people’s rights and ensure that all Nigerians have access to healthcare, food, water and all other basic needs.”
Ojigho asked the authorities to urgently adopt a strategy for the protection of the rights of people deprived of their liberty, including addressing overcrowding in prisons by releasing unconditionally, ‘prisoners of conscience,’ older people and those with underlying medical conditions.
She also enjoined the government to give clear instructions to security agencies not to abuse their powers while enforcing the lockdown order in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun States.
“While acknowledging the size of the challenge and efforts made by authorities to fight COVID-19 across Nigeria, we are also concerned about reports and videos circulating on social media showing violations of human rights, that include beatings by law enforcement agencies tasked with ensuring compliance with the lockdown,” AI stated.
Deji Sasegbon’s Latest Dictionary: Place your order now. Call:08076095047, 07036688678, 08035629991
Newswire, we present the world of law and the issues that engage them. This edition is yet again, ‘Mind-blowing’. Go get your copy(ies) Now!
Do you need to be heard? Or your articles published? Send your views, messages, articles or press release to: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk >>> We can cover your (LAW) events at the first Call: 08039218044, 08024004726
-Advertisement-
Grab our latest Magazine, "Kelechi Amadi-Obi - Transcending the worlds of Law, Visual Art and Photography". Get your order fast and stress free.
For more details about Newswire Law&Events Magazine, kindly reach out to us on 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk. You will be glad you did
Download E-MagazineDo you want to be heard, your events covered, your articles published, or need to advertise your products and services on our Blog and Magazine, reach out to us at Newswire Law and Events, you will be glad you did. For more details about our services, please call: 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk
