Among the dismissed officers are 3 senior officers and 7 junior staff from Kuje Medium Security Prison and 3 senior officers and 10 junior staff from Koton Karfe Prison. Meanwhile, Nsukka Prison Deputy Controller for Prisons (DCP) Okonkwo Lawrence and 10 of his colleagues were suspended.
In the wake of a string of prison breaks that have unfolded across Nigeria, 23 Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) officers have been sacked while 11 others are facing suspension.
This was announced to the public on Monday in a press release issued by NPS Public Relations Officer Francis Enobore. The decision to dismiss the officers was made at an emergency meeting called by the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Service Board (CDFIPB) and held on August 11, 2016.
In the letters of dismissal issued to the affected staff, the CDFIPB cited “negligence of duty” as the cause for dismissal, stating that CDFIPB’s disciplinary actions are in line with the provision of Public Service Rule 030402 (O).
Among the dismissed officers are 3 senior officers and 7 junior staff from Kuje Medium Security Prison and 3 senior officers and 10 junior staff from Koton Karfe Prison. Meanwhile, Nsukka Prison Deputy Controller for Prisons (DCP) Okonkwo Lawrence and 10 of his colleagues were suspended.
Nigeria has endured three separate prison breaks throughout the summer. The first occurred in June at Kuje Prison in Abuja, in which two inmates escaped only to be recaptured less than a week later. In July, 13 prisoners escaped Koton Karfe Prison in Kogi State. Just last week, 15 inmates escaped from Nsukka Prison, but 6 were recaptured shortly thereafter.
