CoronavirusLaw & JusticeNewsAmnesty International Tells Prison Authorities to Prevent Spread of Covid-19

THE AMNESTY International has called on the prison authorities to intensify it effort to prevent the spread of the COVID–19 pandemic in correctional and detention centres.

The call was made on Thursday in a series of tweets which revealed that prisoners and detainees at police and military facilities across Nigeria are at risk of contracting the Covid-19 infection as they are held in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions that can be even more deadly in the hot weather.

Providing the statistics of some prison capacities across the country, AI disclosed that most prisons are overly crowded.

Kaduna prisons capacity is 473 but with a Lock up of 1,480 inmates, Port Harcourt Maximum Prison: Capacity: 804 and a Lock-up of 4,576 inmates,

Enugu Maximum Prison with a capacity of 638 and has a lock-up of 2077. Warri Prison capacity 500 and a lock-up of 1400 inmates.

Other international research organizations are equally critical of the deplorable conditions inside Nigeria’s prison. James Ladi Williams who’s a research analyst for the center on international development and governance at the Urban Institute wrote that “Nigeria’s criminal justice system is in urgent need of reform. Prisons are overcrowded, holding 73,314 people despite capacity for only 50,153. Of those held, an estimated 70 percent are awaiting trial and have not yet been convicted of a crime; reports find that some people have been awaiting trial for as long as thirteen years.”

Amnesty International also noted that Nigeria must implement appropriate measures to ensure the protection of women and children against all forms of violence and the government must increase support for services and protection, including shelters, hotlines, online advice platforms, and criminal justice processes, especially during the lockdown.

• About
• Latest Posts

Beloved John (Staff Writer)

Writer and reporter-researcher, John Beloved is a self-motivated and creative Journalist with a commitment to quality writing and investigation. She accumulatedher professional skills and experience working for over 3 years as a content creatior and communication management. She holds a B.Sc. Education (Political Science) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.

Latest posts by Beloved John (Staff Writer) (see all)

• Breaking: Ohanaeze President General, George Obiozor, confirmed dead - December 28, 2022
• US to support NDLEA on improved intelligence gathering capacity - December 27, 2022
• Why diversified HIV/AIDS prevention tools matter for women - December 26, 2022