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Angry inmates protest over reduction of food ration in Jos prison amid economic hardship
Angry inmates at the Jos Correctional Center, Plateau State have staged a protest over the economic hardship ravaging the nation.
According to reports, the inmates started the protest on Friday, March 1, 2024, immediately after they got tipped off on a downward review of food size.
During the protest, the inmates refused to take orders from the custodial officials and also shunned breakfast.
They converged on the center of the prison yard while shouting on top of their voices but the custodial officials used tear gas to force them back to their rooms.
Confirming the incident to journalists at the Nigerian Correctional Service in Jos, the Controller of Corrections Plateau State Command, Raphael Ibinuhi, stated that tear gas canisters and firing shots in the air were applied to disperse the unruly inmates when they refused to return to their cells.
“By the time the inmates were called this morning for briefing, they were not happy that the period for consumption of rice has been reduced from four times to two in a week and expressed dissatisfaction on the development,” Ibinuhi said.
“I instructed the officer in charge to return them to their cells but instead they became violent and started throwing stones at the personnel. In response and to keep the situation from getting out of hand, we have to resort to firing tear gas canisters and gunshots which enable the handsmen to return the inmates to the cells. Some of the personnel sustained minor injuries from the stones thrown at them but no inmates were injured during as the situation was brought under control.”
The Jos Custodial Centre has 1,064 inmates comprising 1,035 males and 19 females. Of the figure, those awaiting trial are made up of 647 males and 14 females. While convicted inmates consist of 205 males and four female, inmates on death roll are 131.
Following the rising cost of living in the country, many Nigerians have demonstrated, asking the Federal Government to ameliorate their pains.
