Following the outrage trailing the arrest and detention of minors who allegedly participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has reacted.
In a statement released on Saturday, the spokesperson for the NCoS, Umar Abubakar, described the reports as misleading as the service did not hold minors in its Kuje facility
According to Abubakar, the service adheres to strict standards when managing juvenile offenders.
Urging the public to ignore the report, Abubakar explained that the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 has empowered the Controllers of Corrections and Superintendents-in-charge of Custodial Centres not to admit juveniles in facilities meant for adults.
His words, “The said report has no iota of truth as the Service operates based on best correctional and global practices.
“To set records straight, the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 has empowered the Controllers of Corrections as well as Superintendents-in-charge of Custodial Centres not to admit juveniles in facilities meant for adults.
The Act also mandates the Service to reject more intake of inmates where it is apparent that the custodial facility in question is filled to capacity,” Abubakar stated.