Jail Break Looms As Weak Walls, Overcrowding Logistics Challenges Threaten A/Ibom Prison

 Years of neglect have taken its toll on the Medium Security Correctional Centre (MSCC), on Liverpool Road, Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State, and may give rise to jail break as the old building with weak walls and other decayed infrastructure could cave in with little pressure, LEADERSHIP checks revealed.

More worrisome to the prison authorities, according to some officials, is the overcrowding problem, which they attributed to logistics issues as the operational vehicles had since broken down, compounding effective administration of justice.

It was gathered that no fewer than 46 inmates are currently awaiting trial due to non availability of operational vehicles to convey them to courts, thereby overstretching the carrying – capacity of the facility.

Corroborating the pathetic state of the prison, the Chief Superintendent of Corrections (CSC,) Samuel Bassey, disclosed that infrastructure decay, coupled with the rains and flash floods, have combined to really wreaked havocs on the custodial centre.

He told the leadership of Eket Federal Constituency Media Professionals (EFCMP), on a verification visit to the prison, that the congestion problem currently facing the centre could have been eased, but for operational vans to ferry the awaiting – trial inmates to Courts.

According to CSC Bassey, some of the inmates were brought from Nsit Ubium LGA, to the facility since 2023, adding that never for once since then, have they been able to keep dates in Courts due  to lack of operational vehicles to convey them.”

He disclosed that, “sometimes we have to go to the local park to hire mini buses that will convey inmates to courts,” lamenting that “the decision is very risky as you must ensure that the person you engage is trustworthy.

He wondered how justice could be properly dispensed when the inmates have not been taken to  court.

“Our jurisdiction covers 9  LGAs with 66 courts, and It is difficult to take the inmates to courts without having operational vehicles. None of our vehicles are functional. Even the one at the workshop cannot be fixed. We really need support to discharge our duties effectively,” CSC Bassey stressed.

He disclosed that they have made frantic efforts by writing to the concerned authorities, requesting for operational vehicles but without any response. He , therefore,  appealed to government at all levels, corporate organizations, non-governmental organizations, philanthropists, etc, to come to their aid as the problems have become very worrisome not only to the inmates, but also to those working in the facility.

The CSC recalled that the last vehicle that was donated to the facility was during  era of former Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration, pointing out that he has written series of letters requesting for support logistics support to no avail.

Bassey, therefore, expressed empathy that some of the roofs in the facility have been totally worn out due to the heavy rains experienced in the Southern part of the country, thereby exposing some of the inmates to severe atmospheric conditions.

“There is nothing we can do on our own to remedy the situation,” he said.

He commended the media professionals for the visit and assured of stronger collaboration especially in reformation and reintegration of inmates back to the society.

Responding, the chairman of the group, Comrade Enobong Nsimah, expressed concern over the  fate of inmates given the prevailing state of the facility and solicited collaboration. He assured of the readiness of the media forum to offer pro -bono services to inmates that do not have access to legal representations.

He also requested for partnership to train some of the inmates in skills acquisition and reform them so that they can be useful to themselves, their community and the larger society.

On feeding and health conditions of the inmates, CSC Bassey, applauded the federal government for feeding the inmates well.