The Controller-General (CG), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Mr Haliru Nababa, has directed men of the armed squad to deploy maximum force to defend custodial centres against armed attackers.
Nababa gave this directive after a preliminary assessment of the security challenges facing the NCoS by the Controller-General’s Security and Intelligence Council.
This is contained in a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Mr Francis Enobore, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The CG directive followed the attack on the Oyo Custodial Centre where inmates escaped from custody on October 22.
The CG condemned, in strong terms, the unprovoked and incessant attacks on custodial centres and the forceful release of hardened criminals into the society.
He noted that such a development is capable of worsening the security situation, including having a toll on the socio-economic growth and development of the nation.
He, therefore, directed men of the armed squad, especially those recently retrained by the military, to deploy the knowledge acquired to resist attacks with maximum force.
According to him, the training you have acquired and the weapons given to you are to be put to maximum use, professionally.
“You are to show no mercy on armed invaders on our facilities because by their action, they have declared themselves enemies of the state,” he stated.
Nababa expressed confidence in the quality of retraining programme being embarked upon by the service in partnership with the military.
He said “this collaboration will enhance the resilience and capacity of the personnel to deploy high-grade weapons when the need arises”.
He used the opportunity to commend the officers attached to Kagara Medium Security Custodial Centre, Niger State, for successfully repelling the bandits who attacked the facility, promising a handsome reward for the act of gallantry.
Nababa called for support from members of the public in intelligence gathering that would enable security operatives nip these ugly incidences in the bud, observing that it cost far less to prevent than resisting attacks.
“Security thrives on timely and actionable intelligence and crimes of this magnitude certainly take time to plan.
“The attackers live among us, congregate, share information, procure logistics and embarks on suspicious movements and activities.
“If intelligence reports are timely made available to security operatives, then the situation can be controlled with less damage” the CG stressed.
Nababa commiserated with heads of security agencies and family members of gallant officers who paid the supreme prize in the line of duty.
He assured of his readiness to spare no resource in securing all Custodial facilities in the country.
