Jailbreak: FG to deploy joint task force of armed personnel in custodial centres

Federal Government has disclosed plans to deploy a joint task force of armed personnel to protect the custodial centres across the country in view of the rising cases of attacks on the facilities and freeing of inmates by hoodlums.

Accordingly, the Controller General of Correctional Services, Haliru Nababa has initiated a high-level discussion with his counterparts in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on ways to strengthen the security around Custodial centres across the Country.

Public Relations Officer of Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr Francis Enobore in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the meeting which held at the National Headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) on Friday 17th December 2021, centered on strengthening intelligence gathering and sharing of same among security operatives to nip attacks in the bud.

He added that the synergy would also include the immediate inauguration of a Joint Taskforce of armed personnel comprising the three arm-bearing agencies under the Ministry of Interior.

“The task force is expected to combine with the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed forces and the Nigeria Police Force that are already deployed to support corrections armed squad in guarding custodial centres,” Enobore said.

He noted that the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr Abubakar Audi in his remark, lauded the initiative and promised to task all State Commandants of his Service to gear up for the onerous task of protecting custodial centres that are now designated as critical national infrastructure being the last agency in the actualization of criminal justice dispensation in Nigeria.

He also called for regular meetings and more investment in intelligence gathering that will help forestall an armed invasion of facilities and other criminal activities in the future.

The Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Idris Jere in his contribution noted that the NIS was poised to activate the data of escapees in all the entry and exit points that are manned by his personnel in other to strengthen the recapture process already initiated.

He commended the CGC for vigorously pursuing the deployment of technology which, sooner than later, will replace the present operating system and among other things, make escapes/jail attacks difficult.

He further stressed the importance of organising a common front to challenge the misguided activities of armed criminals and expressed confidence that they will be conquered in no distant time.

It will be recalled that the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola on 9th December 2021 during the ministerial retreat held in Ilorin, Kwara State, directed security agencies under the Ministry of Interior to work together as a family in the area of intelligence gathering, sharing and physical confrontation with jail attackers.

He described the perpetrators as common enemies whose main agenda is to challenge the authority and test the might of the Federal government therefore, must not be allowed to live to tell their story.

In a related development, the CGC had visited the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Engr. Aliyu Azeez Abubakar to finalize the process of red-flagging fleeing inmates through the harmonization and sharing of inmates data already captured by NIMC, in online transactions.

Custodial Centres in Nigeria have since October 2020 during the ill-fated #EndSARS protest witnessed six (6) attacks in different parts of the country where corrections officers and some members of other security agencies, including inmates lost their lives, and many criminals released into the society.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

FALSE! Yoruba Not An Official Language In Brazil

Claim: A national newspaper and multiple online platforms claim Brazil has adopted Yoruba as its official language and that the language would be included in primary and secondary schools curriculum.

Verdict: The claim is false. The content of the article published by these online platforms is not new; it has been recirculated several times and has been debunked.

Viral Voice Note On WhatsApp Billing False

Claim: A viral WhatsApp voice note, purportedly made by the director and CEO of WhatsApp, claims users will have to start paying for WhatsApp services.

Verdict: The viral WhatsApp voice note claim is a hoax. The content is not new and has been circulated as a broadcast message several times in the past.

Marburg Virus: What You Need To Know About Disease Recently Detected In West Africa

On Monday, August 9, 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the first case of Marburg virus in West Africa in Guinea. This development has sent shivers down the spines of West Africans who are still grappling with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. But before this dreaded disease is greeted by rumours and misinformation, here is what you have to know about the virus.APC states to establish Health Emergency Trust Fund…

FACT CHECK: US Did Not Give Nigeria 48 Hours Ultimatum To Detain Abba Kyari

CLAIM: Several social media posts claim the United States of America (USA) gave Nigeria’s Federal Government 48 hours to detain suspended Deputy Police Commissioner, Abba Kyari, or face severe sanctions.

VERDICT: The claim is false and misleading. The US did not give Nigerian Federal Government 48 hours ultimatum to detain Abba Kyari.