Today, on March 31, inmates at the Medium Custodial Centre in Kaduna sparked a riot due to rumors of a suspected COVID-19 case within the facility.
The prisoners sought release from the congested centre after claims emerged of an awaiting trial inmate infecting two others with Coronavirus.
According to The Nation, the center’s personnel had a challenging time, resorting to firing shots to quell the inmates’ agitation.
Sanusi Muazu Danmusa, the Controller of the Kaduna Command of the Correctional Centre, dismissed allegations of a Coronavirus-infected inmate at the facility, attributing today’s unrest to a “mere misunderstanding.”
Danmusa clarified, saying;
“We only had a mere misunderstanding and we have resolved it. Our environment is now peaceful and calm.”
“There is no suspected case of COVID 19 in Kaduna Convict Prison, whoever is carrying such is carrying a mere rumor. To the best of my knowledge and as far as I know, there is no case of COVID 19 here.”
“Nobody enters this place, except you are a staff and even the staff, we wash and sanitize our hands before we enter and the people who work here do not go out until they close.”
He also revealed that there were no casualties during the disturbance at the custodial center.