Minister urges staff of custodial facilities to be vigilant against crime

Omoregie Tina, Abuja

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has again stressed the need to fortify all Custodial facilities across the country against any attack, declaring the facilities as ‘Red Zones’ to invaders.

He gave the charge while addressing Squadron Commanders of the Nigerian Correctional Service, on friday, in Abuja.

The Minister, in his speech titled ‘INVIOLABLE CUSTODIAL CENTRES’, he

noted that staff were armed and positioned to directly guard the custodial Centres and defend their integrity.

The statement reads in full, “This meeting is very important considering the security challenges we face in the country at the moment.

“Earlier this month, there was an attack, the worst of its kind, on the Owerri custodial centre. During the #ENDSARS riots of late last year, there were coordinated attacks on custodial centres in Edo State, while an unsuccessful attempt was made in Lagos. It should be clear that a pattern of attack on custodial centres is emerging, in which the current security challenges are being used to stage attacks on our facilities.

“Let me commend you for your professionalism, diligence and sacrifice in the performance of your duty which have upheld the integrity of our custodial centres. Your job is like that of a goalkeeper. I am aware of the yeoman’s job you are doing in foiling attacks on our institutions, even as the outcry grows on the recent cases of jailbreaks.

“The second, and not less important, stems from the notion that humans are capable of being good and therefore, subject to reformation at the right environment, they can be reset to factory setting through conscious reformation. This, of course, is why our agency is now formally called correctional institution. Nevertheless, these two ideas undergird the correctional institution.

“We are already seeing some of these. Some of the escaped inmates from Edo have been arrested for committing murder and other crimes. One in particular went after those who provided the witness for his conviction.

“The weapons you carry and the instrument you have are to be lawfully deployed for maximum effect, in protecting the facilities. Anyone or group of persons that decide(s) to attack them should not live to regret it.

“This begins with vigilance. You must be on the watch for any instrument or material that could aid criminals in perpetuating jailbreaks.

“It is my firm belief that you will return to your posts recharged, renewed, reinvigorated and reequipped with a new sense of purpose. A philosopher once said that you may not be able to change the world, but all that is required of you is to do your part and do it well. That is what it takes to change the world.

Earlier, the Acting Controller General of Nigeria Correctional Service, John Mrabure, assured the Minister of their personnel’s readiness to arrest the spate of wanton attacks on correctional facilities.

Also in attendance at the meeting was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore and other dignitaries.