The Federal Government has dismissed 23 Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) officers and suspended 11 others following reoccurring jailbreaks.
The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) after its emergency meeting held last Thursday, approved the dismissal of three senior prisons officers serving in Kuje Medium Security Prison and three other senior officers serving in Koton Karfe Prison for their complicity in the escape of prisoners.
The dismissal letters dated August 12, were signed by the board’s secretary, Alhaji A.A. Ibrahim.
The letter reads: “CDFIPB considered the allegation of serious misconduct arising from your negligence of duty as levelled against you… The board thereafter approved your immediate dismissal from the NPS in line with the provision of the Public Service Rule 030402 (O), being an action prejudicial to the security of the state.”
A statement by NPS spokesman Francis Enobore, said: “Similarly, the Controller-General of Prisons, in his capacity, has approved the dismissal of seven junior officers serving in Kuje Medium Security Prison and 10 other junior staff serving in Koton Karfe Prison also implicated in the escape saga.
“The affected officers are to hand over all government properties in their possession to their immediate superior and proceed accordingly.
“Meanwhile, the officer in charge of Nsukka Prison DCP Okonkwo Lawrence and 10 others have been suspended over the recent prisoners’ escape from the prison.
“The suspension is to allow for detailed and uninterrupted investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident to facilitate appropriate action by the authority.
“It will be recalled that in the wake of incessant escape of prisoners from some prisons in the country, the CGP, Ja’afaru Ahmed, on August 2, convened an emergency meeting of command officers and 241 officers in charge of prisons across the country to reassess security measures for safe-keeping of prisoners. Although a number of escapees have been recaptured, efforts are still being made to ensure that all the fugitives are apprehended and returned to prison custody.
“The controller-general wishes to assure all officers and men of the Nigerian Prisons Service of his readiness to support and encourage hard work and dedication to duty, but frowns at acts of negligence capable of embarrassing the service and the nation at large.”
The controller-general, who appreciated the collaboration of security agencies, vigilance groups and the public for their support, assured that necessary measures were being put in place to guarantee maximum security of persons in prison custody.
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