Fire has engulfed several buildings inside
the popular Kuje prison in the federal capital
territory, Abuja.
According to reports, the fire reportedly
started several hours ago and a group
calling itself the Prisoners Against Injustice
in Nigeria (PAIN) has claimed responsibility
for the fire.
The group made the claim in a handwritten
statement posted on the prison notice
board before it was removed by the prison
authorities as the group claimed the attack
was meant to draw the attention of the
world to the pathetic state of prisons and
corruption within prison services.
The group said that in spite of the huge
annual budgetary allocation to the Nigeria
Prison Service, inmates must buy medicines
through prison staff and seek funds to treat
serious conditions in healthcare facilities
outside the yard. Those who are unable to
afford health services are left to their fate,
with many dying.
No life was howver lost in the fire but the
affected buildings are the moribund Clinic
block, Custody 2, which is the congested
home to 153 Awaiting Trial Inmates,
Convicts block (custody 3) where 322
inmates are crammed into, and Custody 4,
another Awaiting Trial block where
additional 306 inmates are packed in like
sardines
