Biafra: remanded IPOB members are making prisons more congested -NPS

The Nigeria Prisons Services (NPS) has lamented the overstretching of prisons due to the high number of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members being remanded in different correctional facilities, across the South-East and South-South regions.

The disclosure was made by the Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Zone E, comprising of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Imo and Rivers, with headquarters in Owerri, Alloy Uchenwa, during his address tonewsmen in Umuahia on Monday.

He stated that, more than members of 100 IPOB are being held in various prisons in the zone.

He added that it is from the prisons that the suspects go to court to face trial over the clash with soldiers who invaded the home of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, last month.

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The prison head said “It was a miracle yesterday how we were able to convey 100 IPOB members to court.”

Uchenwa said inadequate logistics as one of the main challenges confronting  the prisons and called on to individuals, organisations and governments to come to the assistance of the zone.

He also noted that prison congestion is another challenge the service faced, saying a situation where “more than 90 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial was worrisome.”

Uchenwa called for the establishment of more prison yards to ease the challenge of overcrowding, adding that many prisons are not conducive as some cells for 500 are being occupied by 1,000 inmates.

He said he had raised the issue of prison congestion with Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu (SAN), who he said promised to do something.