Fear In Rivers Over Alleged Transfer Of Boko Haram Prisoners To Portharcout

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 the organisation.

“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.

Culled from Vanguard