Following last Monday’s attack of Owerri Custodial Centre by Unknown gunmen, the House of Representatives has called for a security beef-up of the various correctional centers across the country.
The charge was made known through the Chairman, House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Anayo Edwin, in a statement released on Wednesday, according to him, it is worrisome that about 1,800 inmates escaped from the Owerri Custodial Centre during the invasion.
While condemning the attacks on Owerri prisons as well as police formations in Imo State, Edwin, urged the Department of State Security (DSS) to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the attacks so as to forestall a reoccurrence.
Read Also: Under The APC Misgovernment, The Law Is An Arse In Nigeria
He equally charged the security agencies to find perpetrators and ensure that they face the full wrath of the law.
‘The security agencies must strive to avoid a situation where criminals attack custodial centers at will and set the inmates free,’ he stated.
Edwin, while charging the security agencies to redouble their efforts to re-arrest the escapees and return them to the facility, urged the public to report suspicious movements around them to the nearest police station.
According to him, it is not in the interest of the country and citizens to allow the inmates roam about freely.
He assured that the House, upon resumption from its Easter holiday, would ensure better support for security agencies to enable them to safeguard public facilities.
Edwin added that his committee will interface with the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Correctional Service to explore ways to ensure that the custodial centers are better secured.
Unknown Gunmen had in the early hours of Monday breached and gained access to the correctional center in Owerri, Imo State while freeing inmates who are over 1800 in number.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
