The Nigerian government reduces the detention of minors, inmates who are mentally ill

The federal government has condemned the detention of minors who violate the law, detention of mental illness without treatment, and sad welfare conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, on Monday directed Nigerian Penitentiary services (NCOS) to submit, within four weeks, a comprehensive status report on all guards and barstal centers throughout the country.

Ajani, who touched the independent investigation panel regarding allegations of corruption and other violations against NCO, issued directions during the three public hearing panels in Abuja. He said the order followed the disturbing findings from the 28 state visits.

“You do not unite underage prisoners with adults. Those who should not be there must be immediately moved. Report again within four weeks, with proof of compliance,” he told NCO officials.

The secretary still questioned the legality to accept minors to detention without court orders and criticized the ignorance of mentally ill inmates, especially where psychiatric facilities were available nearby.

“That is not enough for people’s chains, it is not even permitted. They must be assessed and cared for,” Ajani said, quoting an example of Abeokuta, where inmates who were mentally ill had not been referred to the famous mental hospital in the city.

He also expressed concern over the Ilorin Borstal facility, where adults aged 30 to 43 years were reportedly placed, and called for their direct transfer. Some custodian centers, he said, were “terrible” and needed immediate attention.

Panel Secretary Uju Agomoh said the investigation was examining allegations of corruption, torture and systemic deviations in correctional facilities. The investigation aims to secure the direct release of people who are detained wrongly and recommend long -term reforms.

Among the cases reviewed were claims that an officer at the Kuje Correctional Center threatened and deceived a prisoner, and an investigation of whether Cross-Dresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, actually served his sentence.

Ajani stressed that the panel mission is corrective, not punishment.

“We do this to finish something correctly and give dignity to prisoners in one of our locations,” he said.