In a dramatic crackdown on criminal activities within prison walls, no fewer than 150 inmates have been transferred from the Okere Correctional Facility in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State to various prisons in northern Nigeria, SaharaReporters has exclusively learned.
The move follows an explosive investigation that exposed a criminal enterprise operating within the facility, with inmates reportedly orchestrating fraud, blackmail, and even robbery from behind bars.
A Prison Turned Crime Hub
Earlier reports by SaharaReporters revealed that inmates at Okere Correctional Facility had unrestricted access to mobile phones, bank accounts, and private meeting spaces, enabling them to run elaborate fraud schemes and blackmail operations with outside accomplices.
One shocking case involved a woman who unknowingly entered a romantic relationship with an inmate, Perez Ekiyor, after meeting him on Facebook in 2019. She was manipulated into opening a bank account for him, only to later discover large sums of money being deposited without her knowledge. When she attempted to end the relationship, Ekiyor retaliated by leaking their private conversations and explicit photos online.
Another woman nearly fell victim to a similar scam in 2023. She was deceived by an inmate who posed as a worker in Ibadan, Oyo State, built an emotional connection with her, and then attempted to extort ₦200,000. A prison officer intervened just in time, revealing that the man had been incarcerated since 2020 and was part of a well-known fraud ring operating within the prison.
Investigations further uncovered that inmates at Okere were linked to a violent robbery on January 3, 2025. Armed criminals attacked a victim, stole valuables, and transferred ₦4 million from their account. When police traced the transaction to Okere prison, officials initially resisted cooperation, but law enforcement eventually arrested a death row inmate who confessed to masterminding the operation.
Following the damning revelations, authorities have transferred at least 150 prisoners from Okere to various correctional facilities in northern Nigeria. A relative of one of the transferred inmates confirmed the development, stating that his family member was relocated to Kano Prison under strict conditions.
“I tell you authoritatively that at least 150 inmates were moved from Okere Correctional Centre to the North. One of my relatives, who was in Okere before, is now in Kano Prison. He called to inform us about the move and described the harsh conditions they are facing,” the source told SaharaReporters.
The relative added that many of the relocated inmates struggle with unfamiliar diets and are left with little to eat apart from Garri, as they adjust to their new environment.
“We were among those who raised concerns about inmates leaving the facility to commit crimes, rob, and kidnap people. The issue was investigated, but nothing was done about it until now,” the source added.
A prison official who spoke with SaharaReporters confirmed the transfers but insisted they were part of routine procedures. The official, however, acknowledged that the relocations would significantly impact family visitations and inmates’ psychological well-being.
“It’s a routine measure. Sometimes, inmates serve their sentences close to home, which allows for occasional family visits. But once they are transferred to faraway facilities, maintaining contact becomes difficult,” the official said.
Sources within the correctional system suspect that SaharaReporters’ revelations played a role in prompting the mass transfers, as authorities scrambled to contain the growing scandal.
When contacted, Umar Abubakar, spokesperson for the Nigeria Correctional Service, confirmed the inmate transfer but insisted it was part of efforts to decongest correctional facilities.
“Yes, it’s a routine matter. We have been discussing the issue of congestion in Nigerian correctional facilities. When a custodial center is overcrowded, the Controller General has the authority to transfer inmates from one center to another, as long as they are convicts,” Abubakar stated.
Despite official claims that the transfers were administrative, prison insiders and human rights advocates believe they were triggered by mounting pressure to address the growing criminal network operating from within Okere Correctional Facility.
With ongoing investigations into prison corruption, security breaches, and inmate-run fraud syndicates, this latest transfer raises critical questions:
Will the move genuinely curb criminal activities, or will the syndicate simply adapt to their new locations?
How deep does corruption run within Nigeria’s correctional facilities?
Will authorities finally implement long-term reforms to prevent prisons from becoming breeding grounds for organized crime?
For now, what is clear is that Okere Correctional Facility has become a symbol of Nigeria’s broken prison system, where inmates hold more power than the officials meant to rehabilitate them.
PIONEER NEWS 