In a chilling testimony, a 50-year-old former inmate identified only as Idris has described his two-year ordeal at the Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as “nothing but hell.” His story sheds light on the harrowing reality of life behind bars in Nigeria’s overstretched and under-resourced correctional facilities. “We slept in hundreds, like packed sardines in a room that was supposed to accommodate twenty people,” Idris said, narrating the conditions he endured while awaiting trial. “We battled skin rashes, head lice, bedbugs—and eventually, some inmates developed mental disorders.” Idris was arrested in the aftermath of a cult clash near the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Abeokuta. Mistakenly caught in the chaos while attempting to greet an old friend, he was shot, hospitalized for a month, and later charged with attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms. “I was shot, I shot at many people also, but I was overpowered,” he admitted, recounting his eventual transfer from hospital to police custody and later to court. His situation reflects a broader crisis in Nigeria’s correctional system. Overcrowded and Overlooked Despite a 2019 rebranding of the Nigerian Prisons Service to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)—a move aimed at rehabilitation rather than punishment—overcrowding and neglect remain rampant. According to 2025 statistics, 81,287 inmates are currently held in Nigerian correctional facilities. Of this number, 53,178 are awaiting trial, many for non-violent or minor offenses. In Ogun State alone, the Ibara facility, designed for 700 inmates, now holds 1,468. Similarly, the Oba correctional centre, with a capacity of 850, houses 999 inmates. Conditions are grim. Idris’ cell was located next to the prison kitchen, intensifying the heat and congestion. “The food is terrible. Rice is served only twice a week. Other days, it’s garri and beans. Eat too much soup, and you end up with a disability—we called it Sapa ti mu mi lepon,” he said, referring to extreme hunger-related ailments. We Died of Ulcers, Measles and Madness’ Access to healthcare in the prisons is abysmal. According to Idris, many inmates died from treatable conditions like ulcers or lost their sanity due to diseases like measles. “They give only paracetamol. In serious cases, your family must foot the bill,” he revealed. “Two people ran mad from untreated measles.” Correctional Centres Now Breed Criminals – Ex-Inmate Rather than reform, Idris believes prisons now function as training grounds for hardened criminals. “Some people enter for minor theft and come out as armed robbers. Those convicted of capital crimes take them under their wings, and they return to society worse than they went in,” he said. He called for alternatives like community service for minor offenses, decrying how trivial crimes lead to prolonged incarceration and deeper criminal entrenchment. Inmates Plead for Amnesty Ayomide Olagoke, another inmate at Ibara Correctional Centre and a master’s degree holder in Banking and Finance, echoed the call for reforms. Speaking during his convocation ceremony, where he earned a degree in theology from the West African College for Christian Missions, he urged the government to act. “We are reformed and deserve a second chance. People are dying every day. Husbands and wives are locked up for up to nine years awaiting trial. What becomes of their children?” he asked. Chief Judge, Controller Raise Alarm Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has also decried the appalling state of the correctional facilities. During a recent visit to Sagamu Correctional Centre, she noted that inmates were forced to stand or sit due to lack of space. “Some inmates have been awaiting trial since 2013—12 years in custody without conviction,” she lamented. Ogun State Controller of Corrections, Abioye Adesina, confirmed the persistent overcrowding despite repeated decongestion efforts. He appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun for more operational vehicles to improve logistics. Reforms Exist Only on Paper – Legal Expert Legal practitioner and law lecturer Ogaga Ediru criticised the implementation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, saying its decongestion measures are largely ignored. “Section 12 of the Act mandates urgent action once a facility exceeds capacity. But in practice, nothing is done,” Ediru said. He warned that overcrowding severely impacts hygiene, nutrition, healthcare, and facilitates disease outbreaks. “Section 23 of the Act mandates proper healthcare for inmates, yet overcrowding renders this provision ineffective,” he added. Ediru blamed the sluggish pace of justice for the crisis, noting that many inmates are locked up for minor offenses longer than the law allows. He advocated for systemic reforms, including: “We must treat criminal justice reform as a national emergency. Until then, correctional centres will remain congested warehouses of human despair,” he concluded. Source: By DAILY POST Staff WriterAbeokuta | August 4, 2025
