Correctional services warn officers for negligence when jailbreaks remain

Nigerian Penitentiary (NCOS) services have warned that officers who failed to uphold their responsibilities will face disciplinary sanctions, following a series of jailbreaks that have damaged custodian security throughout the country.

NCO General Controller, Sylvester Nwakuche, issued a warning on Friday in Abuja during the decoration of 30 newly promoted correction control assistants.

He associated the increasing case of jailbreak with what he described as “lethargic attitude” from several zonal coordinators, state controllers, and officers responsible for custodian centers, emphasizing that such negligence would no longer be tolerated.

“It is clear that the Coordinator of Zonal, State Control, and officers responsible for custodian centers have released their duties. This is unacceptable and will no longer be tolerated. Revocation of further responsibility will surely pull a large stick,” Nwakuche stated.

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The available notes indicate that no less than 6,700 prisoners escaped from 13 correctional facilities between 2019 and 2025. While around 2,000 of them had been captured again, more than 4,600 remained free.

The general controller reminded the newly promoted officers that their height was not a ceremony but a call to work at the time of public trust in the fragile correctional system. He urged them to provide disciplined and proactive leadership in accordance with the service mandate.

Nwakuche reiterated the commitment of NCOS to the vision of NCOS ACT 2019, which prioritized the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners rather than the detention of punishment.

He also praised the President of Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Supi-ojo, for their support for ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening correctional facilities and improving welfare for personnel and inmates.