The Hope Behind Bars Africa, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has urged the federal government to speed up the decongestion of custodial centres nationwide.

The senior communications manager of the NGO, Obinna Ejiogu, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, that the government should also urgently address the physical state of the custodial centres.

119 inmates escaped from Suleja Custodial Centre in Niger following a rainstorm that destroyed the facility on Wednesday night.

”The jailbreak underscores the effects of deteriorating structures of the Custodial Centres of the Nigeria Correctional Service, many of which were built in the colonial era and are now old and weak.

”The inadequate maintenance of these buildings, combined with overcrowding of the prisons is what contributes to a high likelihood of jailbreak.

”We call on the Government of Nigeria to do everything within its means to address the physical state of our custodial centres and to speed up efforts to reduce overcrowding.

”We also call on the public to pay more attention to issues concerning corrections in Nigeria, as they affect everyone’s safety,” he said.

Mr Ejiogu added that jailbreaks have far reaching consequences on society, as it increases the threat to security, safety and public health of the people.

He said that the sad news was of particular concern to the Hope Behind Bars Africa, as the organisation had made extensive rehabilitation and reformation efforts at the Suleja facility.

Mr Ejiogu said the intervention included the inauguration of a renovated skills centre for women in the month of March, as part of the organisation’s “Inside Out Hub” project.

 (NAN)