Rivers State chapter of Civil
Liberties Organisation, CLO, Wednesday alleged
that some Boko Haram detainees had been
transferred to the prison in Port Harcourt.
Publicity/Research Secretary of the rights body,
Livingstone Wechie, in a statement, said that
though there was no official comment from any of
the security agencies, a top security source within
the prison service disclosed the development to
“Although the authorities may deny and make this
development an unfounded secret, there is no
basis for this action by the authorities involved,”
he said.
He expressed worry that the development could
impact negatively on the area if the situation was
not well managed.
“Ordinarily, terrorists’ inmates should be kept in
isolated maximum facilities because keeping them
with other ordinary criminals will give them room
to indoctrinate other inmates particularly since the
Port Harcourt prison is already over congested,”
he added.
No official of the Nigeria Prison Service was ready
to comment on the allegation, following
Vanguard’s inquiry.
Meantime, spokesman of Governor Nyesom Wike,
Mr Opubo Nko-Tariah, said that the state
government was not aware of the alleged
development.
“I can’t attest to the veracity of the story. However,
should there be an ounce of truth in the transfer
story, the Rivers State Government should know so
that adequate measures can be put in place in
partnership with the Federal Government. Although
the prisons belong to the Federal Government, the
state government will be blamed for any havoc
wreaked on residents if and when there is a jail
break,” he said.
He wondered why the prisoners would be
transferred to the state when Port Harcourt does
not have a heavily fortified prison for such
inmates.
