Minister of interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called for the immediate investigation of a report on misconduct by some officers and men of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).
The directive is a response to allegations by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, that Prison warders were conniving with Boko Haram elements to carry out terror operations.
General Musa, who spoke when he appeared on Tuesday before the House of Representatives alongside the three Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP),, decried the corrupt attitudes of some prison warders in the North-east, alleging that they aid arrested Boko Haram terrorists in planning their operations.
The CDS stated: “The issue of correctional facilities. In the North-east, when we were debriefing some of the arrested Boko Haram, they were able to tell us how, from the prison, they could plan operations out in the field. They pass funds across.
“They use some of the warders there. We are not saying all of them are corrupt. They use their accounts and the deal is that anyone whose account is used, they share it 50/50. Those are the challenges.”
The probe order is contained in a statement on Thursday in Abuja signed by Minister of Interior’s Spokesperson, Alao Babatunde.
The Minister condemned the unpatriotic act and directed the Comptroller General of the NCoS to immediately investigate the disturbing allegation.
According to the statement: “The minister has called for a speedy investigation into the matter, and any officer culpable or complicit of sabotaging the Nigerian Correctional facility, and by extension the security of the country, shall face the full wrath of the law.
“The Pinister also wishes to inform the public that actions are underway to reform the correctional service to match international standards where inmates would be truly rehabilitated in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The era of talk but no action is over. The Renewed Hope administration will not entertain breaches from any officer. We have the interest of the state to protect, and it is above anyone’s interest.”
