See Prison Built for 379, Has Over 1000 Inmates, with Over 600 On Trials

• “Government should keep on putting effort in this perspective, the whole inmates population is 951 and it is because of COVID-19 that the number is reduced. They could be over 1,000.

The officer in charge of Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre, ACC Abdulazeez Mohammed, has said that the facility is a 379 capacity centre but takes over 1000 inmates.

Mohammed disclosed this on Friday, adding that over 600 of the 951 current inmates were awaiting trials.

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Mohammed spoke on Friday when the state Criminal Justice Committee led by the acting Chief Judge, Justice Muazu Pindiga, donated  sewing machines, clippers,  ceiling fans and  carpentry materials to Gombe and Billiri custodial centres.

He said, “We have a vast population here but no matter how little, it will make impact as we are here to reform people who are deviant.

“Government should keep on putting effort in this perspective, the whole inmates population is 951 and it is because of COVID-19 that the number is reduced. They could be over 1,000.

“When they come afresh we have to isolate them for at least two weeks. Before the isolation is over, some other would have been released on bail; the number keeps fluctuating. It could rise to 1,400. The capacity is for 379.”

The Assistant Controller of Custodial noted that out the current 951 inmates, over 600 were awaiting trial, blaming it on judicial bottlenecks and police investigations.

Representing the acting Chief Judge of the state, the Director of Public Prosecution, Abdulsallam Kumo, said the committee was in the custodial centre on behalf of government to present skill acquisition items for the empowerment of inmates.