COVID-19: NCoS reopens custodial centres for admission of inmates

Following the ease of lockdown in the country, the Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Ja’afaru Ahmed, has ordered the immediate reopening of custodial centres nationwide for the admission of all categories of inmates.

Ahmed, in a statement signed by NCoS Public Relations Officer, Augustine Njoku, said the action became imperative due to the service commitment to enhance access to justice as well as facilitate the administration of criminal Justice in the country.

While cautioning all state controllers and officers in-charge to adhere strictly to the guidelines for the reopening of the custodial centres, he strongly warned that only designated custodial centres with isolation units are to admit inmates.

“The state controllers are to avail the judges in their various states the list of the designated custodial centres. All newly admitted inmates are to be isolated for the mandatory period of 14 days.

“COVID-19 screening should be conducted on all inmates at the isolation units. A confirmatory test after the 14 days should be conducted on all the inmates at the isolation units.

“Regular fumigation of the custodial centres should be carried out at agreed intervals,” he further directed.

The statement equally, states that staff have undergone fundamental/ basic training before being deployed to isolation units and only legal counsels are allowed visits to the inmates, while all procedures, and protocols of COVID-19 screening are to be strictly observed.

Ahmed iimplored the state controllers to liaise with the judiciary and other stakeholders in criminal justice administration to ensure the smooth take -off of these guidelines and fight against COVID-19 in the custodial centres.

Killing of pastor, wife in Taraba worries lshaku 

Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo

Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba state has expressed worry over the killing of the resident Pastor of the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRCN), Marrarraba in Donga Local Government Area, Emmanuel Bileya and his wife, Juliana.

The governor, who made his position known through a statement signed by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu, said he received with shock the news of the murder of Pastor Emmanuel Bileya and his wife.

Describing the killings as wicked and inhuman, Governor Ishaku added that Pastor Emmanuel and his wife, were reportedly attacked by suspected militia men and killed while working on their farm in Marrarraba.

He lamented that killings of this nature have happened too often in southern Taraba communities, pointing out that the situation is unhelpful to the on-going efforts of the state government in achieving lasting peace among communities in the area.

Ishaku further expressed sympathy with the surviving members of Pastor Bileya’s immediate and extended families as well as pastors and members of the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRCN), Marrarraba where he served until his death.

Our correspondent gathered that communal crisis recently erupted in Marrarraba Community of Donga Local Government Area between the Tiv and Ichen people which resulted to loss of lives and destruction of property.