Why Nigeria Recorded Zero Jail Attacks in 2023 – NCoS

The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Haliru Nababa, has commended officers and men of the service for ensuring water-tight security in the custodial centres across the country in the year 2023.

Nigeria had witnessed some deadly jail attacks in recent years but the trend was halted in 2023 and Nababa said it was as a result of the renewed commitment and dedication of personnel of the Service.

Nababa who gave the commendation during the end-of-the-year party and award night for officers and men of the service on Friday in Abuja restated the commitment of the service towards securing all the custodial facilities and rehabilitation of inmates across the country.

“This year will remain memorable for the service as we strive to meet our general mandates of ensuring water-tight security in and around correctional facilities.

“This also includes ensuring that inmates are properly rehabilitated and reformed for proper reintegration.

“As a service, we are committed to fostering a system that is efficient and sustainable towards improving public safety and national security in general.

“In order to achieve this, the officers and men who form the fulcrum of our human resources are paramount. Hence, we are committed towards improving their capacity as well as their welfare,” he said.

The CG said that the event was to appreciate officers and men of the Service for working hard in 2023 and to prepare them for more work in the coming year 2024.

The NCoS boss said that the service would continue to celebrate and reward personnel who displayed excellence, hard work and diligence.

He, therefore, urged the awardees to see the honour as a higher calling towards deeper commitment to peacebuilding in all custodial centres, Nigeria and the world at large.

After some high-profile attacks on custodial centres in 2021 and 2022, the then Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, assured that the government would take measures to enhance the security of custodial centres to stem all threats from within and outside.

He added that the government would upgrade preparation by instituting military bases, police, and other armed agency stations around all custodial facilities.