TheNewsGuru

Tag: NCoS

  • BREAKING: All Boko Haram suspects in Kuje prison escaped – Defence Minister

    BREAKING: All Boko Haram suspects in Kuje prison escaped – Defence Minister

    Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi has said all Boko Haram suspects detained in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja have escaped.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Magashi made this known on Wednesday while addressing journalists after taking an assessment tour of the facility, following Tuesday night’s attack.

    According to Magashi, there were about 64 Boko Haram suspects in the Kuje prison. He said the prison authority has not been able to account for them.

    The Defence Minister said from records, it is likely that the elements that carried out the attack are Boko Haram members.

    Magashi revealed that the prison is accommodating about 994 inmates, including the embattled DCP Abba Kyari, who is facing prosecution for alleged fraud.

    TNG reports the whereabouts of Kyari is not known even as Magashi confirmed that over 600 inmates escaped from the prison.

    “The attack started around 10:30 pm. They came in their numbers, gained entrance into the prison and they released some of the inmates and which we are now following to see the kind of inmates that they have released.

    “Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside from that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned back.

    “The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates and over 600 escaped. Many people have been recaptured and brought back to the prison. Maybe by the close of the day, more will have been captured and returned. I think everything is under control.

    “The people who came to do this activity, from the records, we believe they belong to a particular group.

    “Most likely, they are Boko Haram members because we have sizeable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, and presently we cannot locate any of them.

    “I think they are about 64 in the prison and none of them now is available they have all escaped,” Magashi said.

    TNG, meanwhile, reports the remaining inmates of the prison have been relocated, in the wake of the attack. It is unclear if Kyari was relocated along with the remaining inmates.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen attack Kuje prison in commando style

    BREAKING: Gunmen attack Kuje prison in commando style

    Gunmen in commando style attacked the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja with explosives on Tuesday night.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports sporadic gunshots and bomb blasts were at the Kuje prison that is located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Residents close to the area said the heavy gunshots started at about 10 pm and lasted close to an hour. They said it was not clear who the gunmen are but believed to be some criminal elements.

    Meanwhile, the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Mr Abubakar Umar has confirmed the attack.

    In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, Umar confirmed that the yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked the prison at about 10 pm.

    “However, men of the Armed Squad of the NCoS and other security agencies attached to the Custodial centre have responded.

    “Calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control. Details will be made available soon,” he said.

  • Murder of Super TV CEO: Again, NCoS defends Ojukwu’s participation in beauty pageant

    Murder of Super TV CEO: Again, NCoS defends Ojukwu’s participation in beauty pageant

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) is sensitive to the plight of victims of crime and their families and will not indulge in any activity to assault or undermine their sensibilities.

    The declaration was made in Abuja by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Francis Enobore.

    He was reacting to misgivings in some quarters about the participation of a murder suspect, Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, who emerged winner in a beauty pageant, held by the service earlier in March.

    The pageant was held at the Kirikiri, Lagos, custodial centre to mark the 2022 International Women’s Day.

    Miss Ojukwu is standing trial as the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga in 2021.

    Enobore stated that the NCoS identified with the Atagas in their moment of grief and would do everything within its power to assist the course of justice in unveiling those behind Ataga’s murder.

    “The intendment of the pageant was not to glamourise or make heroes out of criminality, he stated.

    He added that the pageant in question was one out of series of events at the ceremony that featured competition in dancing, singing, bead making and costume design among others.

    “Aside creating a relaxed atmosphere for inmates, the prizes do not bestow any right or privilege on any of the contestants.

    “Moreover, the event was for internal consumption within the custodial environment and never meant to be given wide publicity,’’ Enobore stated.

    He stated also that prizes were won by other inmates equally facing charges for heinous crimes.

    Enobore added that the Service believed that controlled social engagements did not interfere with trial of cases in court as activities within custodial centres had no bearing with evidence needed for cases to be tried.

    “For the records, psychosocial engagements have traditionally been part of the Service’s inmates treatment regimens designed to provide emotional stability needed to promote total well-being of inmates and enhance safe custody,’’ he stated.

    He recalled that several internationally-recognised artistes like Sam Okposu, Onyeka Onwenu, Alabi Pasuma, Denrele, Lamboginny, among others, staged lavish concerts at the Kirikiri and Ikoyi male custodial centres in the past to fete inmates.

    “In year 2000 to be specific, a TV station covered a musical concert for male inmates at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre.

    “At the concert, Dr Sola Fosudo, Head, Department of Art & Music, Lagos State University, praised the performance of inmates and commended NCoS personnel for their effort.

    “These events, beyond the venial of entertaining criminals and suspects, provide avenues for generating actionable intelligence to address some knotty issues under investigation.

    “The intelligence community has severally benefitted from this service,’’ Enobore stated.

    He also addressed the issue of alleged squalor in male custodial centres and stated that females account for less than 1.5 per cent of the total national population of about 70,000 inmates of custodial centres.

    “Therefore, overcrowding and the attendant chaos are exclusively found in male custodial centres due to pressure on infrastructure,’’ Enobore stated.

  • ‘Heads should roll’: Reno Omokri reacts as murder suspect, Chidinma wins Miss Cell 2022

    ‘Heads should roll’: Reno Omokri reacts as murder suspect, Chidinma wins Miss Cell 2022

     

    Lawyer and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has criticised the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for allowing a murder suspect, Chidinma Ojukwu, to take part in a beauty pageant organised for inmates on Tuesday, stressing that a prison facility should be a place of punishment and rehabilitation rather than fun.

    Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos who emerged winner of the pageantry, is being held as the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, which occurred in June last year.

    “Prison is a place of punishment and rehabilitation. Once it becomes a place of fun, the purpose is defeated. How will Usifo’s family feel to see Chidinma prancing about as a beauty queen in prison? Heads should roll, except Chidinma has a prison official sugar zaddy,” Omokri said.

    However, the NCoS has now responded saying that the contest was organised as part of events to mark the International Women’s Day celebration, and was open to all female inmates whether convicted or awaiting trial.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Rotimi Oladokun denied seeing the photos but told The Nation that “the female custodial facilities commemorated International Women’s Day with inmates, various inmates without distinction or discrimination against anybody”.