The Assistant Controller General of Corrections (ACG) of the Nigerian Correctional Service in charge of Medical Services, Dr Glory Essien has revealed that a total of 8,246 inmates are currently suffering from mental illness across the custodial centres in the country.
She disclosed the figure during a public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, and Other Inhumane Treatment by the NCoS, in Abuja.
According to her, the prison system relied on an internal network of trained inmate-leaders who assisted staff in identifying those showing signs of psychological distress.
Essien said that despite these efforts, the scale of mental health issues far exceeded the available resources.
“We have 8,246 inmates with mental health conditions in our custodial centres.
“From the moment someone is brought in, the police escort them to the gate and it’s opened, they’re admitted, and then that gate is locked behind them.
“That instant loss of freedom can trigger something. Some begin to show signs of disturbed behaviour almost immediately, as if something in their mind has shifted,” she said.
On his part, the Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of pharmaceutical services, Mohammed Bashir, said that a psychological services unit had been created within the service to focus on treatment.
“We have a partnership with this psychiatric and psychological association. We have the consultants who usually go to about 12 designated custodial centres that have a large number of these cases,” he said.
He, however, admitted that drug supplies often ran out within weeks due to inadequate funding and staffing.
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