Inmates at the Jos Correctional Centre in Plateau State have cried out over appalling living conditions, revealing a life of suffering marked by starvation, disease, and utter neglect. The disturbing revelations follow a protest by inmates on March 1, 2024, triggered by a reduction in already meagre food rations.
According to reports, the prison authorities responded to the protest with tear gas and warning shots to quell the uprising. But the inmates’ message was loud and clear: “We are treated like animals, not humans.”
The core of the protest centers around the daily feeding allowance of ₦750 per inmate — an amount critics have slammed as grossly inadequate. Alarmingly, this figure is lower than the ₦800 reportedly allocated for feeding security dogs in some government facilities. Inmates say they are given meals unfit for human consumption, with little to no access to fish, meat, or vegetables.
Beyond hunger, the inmates face a healthcare crisis. Many suffer untreated ailments and contagious diseases like tuberculosis, worsened by overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. A past investigation by Premium Times revealed that dozens of inmates have died from preventable illnesses due to lack of medical attention.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has blamed contractors for the poor quality of meals, alleging that some suppliers reduce food portions or divert supplies entirely. Human rights advocates say this is a symptom of deeper corruption and mismanagement within the prison system.
In response to growing criticism, the Federal Government approved a 50% increase in the daily inmate feeding allowance effective from August 2024. But human rights groups warn that unless there is transparency and reform in procurement and oversight, the situation will persist.
“The issue isn’t just money — it’s accountability,” said one rights activist. “Without independent monitoring and systemic reform, Nigerian prisons will remain places of suffering, not correction.”
The situation at Jos Correctional Centre is not isolated. Across Nigeria, thousands of inmates languish in similar conditions, many awaiting trial for years. Advocates are calling for urgent intervention to prevent a humanitarian crisis behind prison walls.
