The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) Niger state command, has stated that none of the inmates in its facility died as a result of hunger or under feeding.
The command Public Relations Officer, CSC Rabiu Mohammed Shuaibu, stated this weekend in press statement in Minna.
He refuted the online report claiming purported death of 8 inmates in correctional facilities in the state resulting from underfeeding saying that it is totally false, ill-motivated and aimed at causing panic in the society.
He said: “The command wishes to clearly state that there was no single death recorded in any of its facility as a result of under feeding. For a reason best known to the writer, he could not verify his claim before dishing out the story to the public which has created unnecessary panic in the society.”
He added that the feeding ratio of inmates has never been compromised in the correctional facilities despite the current economic hardship and hike in prices of food items.
He said, “The Nigeria Correctional Service appreciates the commitment of the federal and state governments, the Chief Judge of Niger state, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik and the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Fatima Umar Mohammed Bago towards providing enhanced welfare for inmates.”
While appreciating the governor’s wife for her recent visit to the old Minna Custodial centre during which she donated 20 bags of rice and 30 bags of maize to augment inmates ratio, the CPRO advised the public to disregard claims in the fabricated report that the first lady donated 250 bags of rice and 250 bags of maize at the event.