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FILE: A facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services.
The Nigerian Correctional Service and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have intensified their collaboration to prevent external attacks on custodial centres and avert jailbreaks nationwide.
As part of this initiative, additional NSCDC personnel will be deployed to custodial centres across the country following the approval of the Commandant-General, Dr. Ahmed Audi.
Audi made these remarks while hosting the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, at the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja.
The Corps’ Spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement released on Wednesday.
Audi stressed the evolving nature of security challenges in Nigeria, noting that the country now faces asymmetric threats.
He recalled the tragic loss of an NSCDC officer during a midnight attack on the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja, describing the officer as fearless and dedicated to duty.
Audi underscored the importance of collaboration, stating that no single paramilitary institution can ensure the safety of custodial centres without working in synergy with others.
“Dr Audi said all State Commandants of the Corps have been directed to collaborate with NCoS by complementing the security apparatus in all custodial facilities across the federation, adding that his doors are widely open in times of need,” the statement read in part.
During the meeting, Nwakuche praised the NSCDC for its ongoing efforts to protect custodial facilities, describing these efforts as a morale booster.
He expressed regret over the loss of personnel at the Kuje Custodial Centre but assured that their sacrifices would not be in vain.
Nwakuche, who was appointed Acting Comptroller-General of Corrections by President Bola Tinubu on December 15, 2024, revealed that his visit was part of efforts to align the NCoS’s programmes with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He highlighted the importance of seeking support from sister security agencies to tackle the complex challenges of managing custodial centres effectively.
