The Controller of the Federal Correctional Service in Niger State, Alh. Muhammad Hamisu Isah, has made a heartfelt plea to the state governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, to intervene and address the dire situation of broken borehole pumps within the state’s correctional facilities.
Isah expressed his concerns during a visit to the Minna old Medium Security Custodian Centre where he highlighted the urgent need for the repair of three dysfunctional boreholes. He emphasized that the state of disrepair poses a significant risk of a potential water shortage crisis, which could lead to a widespread outbreak of disease among inmates.
Recounting the lack of attention and support from both non-governmental organizations and religious bodies, Isah decried the state government’s apparent neglect of the correctional facilities and its inhabitants. He revealed that the boreholes have been non-operational for the past two years, despite futile attempts to secure funding for their repair. Isah beseeched individuals and corporate organizations to offer assistance in restoring these crucial facilities.
In a poignant reflection on the plight of the incarcerated individuals, Isah lamented the indifference shown by previous state administrations towards the inmates’ hardships. He underscored that a large number of the inmates are natives of Niger State, making the lack of support from successive administrations all the more distressing.
Expressing his disappointment, Isah emphasized, “Some of these inmates are indigenes of the state, and it is painful and disturbing that successive administrations of the state have not been of help to the suffering of the inmates. We have been neglected by the government.”
Moreover, he articulated his opinion on the obligations of state governments, stating, “State governments owe a duty to support the correctional facility and the inmates in the custodial centers, but it’s quite unfortunate that some state governments deliberately refuse to extend support to correctional facilities in their respective states.”
The urgent plea by Isah underscores a critical need for immediate action to repair the malfunctioning borehole pumps, to ensure the well-being and safety of the inmates and prevent a potential humanitarian crisis within Niger State’s correctional services.
