The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) in Kaduna State has acknowledged that some inmates died during a riot over a suspected case of Coronavirus in the facility.
The earlier report from LIB stated that the inmates rioted after claiming an awaiting trial inmate had infected two others with Coronavirus and demanding to be released.
The Controller of the Kaduna Command of the Correctional Centre, Sanusi Muazu Danmusa, however, denied the claims of a Coronavirus infection and described the unrest as a “mere misunderstanding.” He also stated that there were no casualties in the commotion at the correctional facility.
After a civil society organisation, Lygel Youths and Leadership Initiative, challenged the authorities to release the details of the deceased victims, the NCS made a U-turn and confirmed that four inmates died in the riot.
Austin Njoku, spokesperson of the NCS, initially refuted reports of inmate deaths and injuries, also stating that the incident was still under investigation.
The Kaduna State command controller of corrections, Sanusi Danmusa, later revealed that the deceased inmates were from the condemned section of the Custodial Centre where the jailbreak occurred. He also announced that a comprehensive investigation had been initiated on the directive of the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Alhaji Jafaru Ahmed.
The Executive Director of LYLI, Lekan Oladapo, has maintained that the correctional centre has not disclosed the complete truth, questioning the delayed revelation of inmate deaths and injuries.