Two inmates of the Uyo Medium Custodial Centre, Akwa Ibom State, were confirmed dead on Thursday, with two prison officials critically injured in an electric transformer explosion.
It was learned that the overloaded transformer located along Metro Road, which also serves part of the Deputy Governor’s Lodge and the prison facility, exploded, causing devastating aftershocks and damage.
The explosion also affected another nearby transformer located along Effiong Udo Akpan Street, near the Wellington Bassey Way.
The State Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed the tragic passing of the two awaiting trial inmates, disclosing that the victims were awaiting arraignment for alleged kidnapping and armed robbery before the unfortunate incident.
LEADERSHIP recalls that there was an explosion of a nearby transformer a fortnight ago, prompting a high-voltage wire to snap and drop at a portion of the NCoS facility, causing a total blackout in the area.
Speaking in an interview with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Akwa Ibom State council after the incident, the State Controller of Corrections, Frank Okonkwo, stated that the Centre was the worst-hit, with other facilities severely damaged.
He said the two deceased victims were thrown up by the force of the explosion where they were sitting, but sadly died at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), where they were rushed for medical treatment.
“They died after administration of first aid by the doctor who later pronounced them dead,” Okonkwo explained.
According to the Controller, although the victims were awaiting trial for conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery, they were presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the Court, describing the situation as very unfortunate.
Okonkwo said the families of the deceased inmates have been contacted, and one of them has concluded the processes of retrieving the corpse for burial, maintaining, however, that the Command would release the corpse only upon completion of investigations.
He added that the legal department was investigating the matter and would present a comprehensive report accordingly.
