Eight inmates of the Kaduna Correctional Centre were allegedly killed by prison officials after they engaged in a protest at the facility.
It was reported that on Tuesday, March 31, inmates engaged in a riot over a rumoured suspected case of COVID-19 at the facility. The prisoners demanded to be released from the congested centre following claims of an awaiting trial inmate infecting two other inmates with Coronavirus. They feared that they could contract Coronavirus and die due to the overcrowded nature of cells and poor ventilation system in the facility
The misunderstanding was resolved and calm was restored.
However, SaharaReporters has reported that 8 inmates were killed the following day, April 1, for leading the protest and the authorities are trying to cover up the incident.
The publication reports that a day after the unrest, at 12pm on April 1, “prison waders went from cell to cell ordering inmates presumed to be ringleaders of the protest to come out.” When they came out, the allegedly shot some and tortured others.
Those killed are Hammed Abdullahi, Lucky Ugokama, Ibrahim Abukabar aka Baba Lolo, Yahu Salisu, Elvis Wisdom Adekpe, Lucky Njoku, Oluchukwu Oche also known as ‘No Witch’, and Ibrahim Abdullahi, while Ogume Osifo Osarome is in critical condition after being severely tortured.
A top source in the correctional facility told SaharaReporters: “One Hammed Abdullahi was shot in the stomach by a prison guard, he died immediately.
“Yahu Salisu was shot in the buttocks while Ibrahim Abdullahi died of torture.
“Lucky Njoku was beaten to death by prison guards, he died of the wounds inflicted on him.
“Ibrahim Abubakar died yesterday too from the beatings he received from the prison guards.”
The publication adds that when they contacted Muhammad Jalige, spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, on the issue, he said it was “an internal problem between staff and inmates” of the correctional facility.
International rights group, Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the alleged jailbreak as well as the decongestion of all prisons nationwide by the Nigerian Government.
