By SaharaReporters
Shocking revelations have emerged from inside the Jos Custodial Centre in Plateau State, exposing a harrowing reality of systemic neglect, dehumanization, and unchecked abuse allegedly endured by inmates at the facility.
Multiple sources from within the prison walls have painted a grim picture of life behind bars—one defined by extreme hunger, unclean water, non-existent healthcare, and an overwhelming sense of abandonment. “People are dying here,” an inmate source disclosed. “There is no food, no water, no rights, and no privileges. Since last year, we haven’t seen meat or fish—just watery beans that are barely edible.”
Photographs obtained by SaharaReporters corroborate these claims, revealing the appalling state of meals served: pale, soupy beans devoid of protein or nutritional value—far removed from anything fit for human consumption.
Medical care, inmates say, is virtually non-existent. “Since November 28, 2021, we’ve been treated like slaves. There’s no proper medical attention. If you fall sick, you pray to survive,” another source lamented.
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Beyond poor living conditions, inmates allege a reign of fear and authoritarian control by a notorious official known only as “Abude.” According to sources, Abude allegedly runs the prison like a personal fiefdom, wielding unchecked power and overriding the authority of the Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC).
“It’s like a family business now,” one source revealed. “Whatever Abude says, that’s what goes. He decides who gets what and how they’re treated. It’s a dictatorship in uniform.”
There are also allegations of ethnic favoritism, with claims that top administrative control is dominated by officials from Langtang, a town in Plateau State, potentially skewing decisions and treatment along ethnic lines.
2024 Hunger Protest: Inmates Revolt Over Food Cuts
These explosive allegations come on the heels of a major protest that rocked the Jos prison on March 1, 2024. The unrest was sparked by an announcement that inmates’ rice rations would be slashed from four times a week to just twice, replaced by cheaper alternatives like grains and garri. The decision reportedly followed complaints from a food contractor over surging food prices, especially rice.
Furious and desperate, the inmates staged a protest during a routine morning briefing, refusing to return to their cells and pelting correctional officers with stones. The prison authorities responded with tear gas and gunfire into the air to suppress the uprising.
Prison authorities later confirmed the disturbance, stating that while several officers sustained minor injuries, no inmate was seriously hurt.
At the time, the Jos Custodial Centre housed 1,064 inmates—comprising 647 males and 14 females awaiting trial, 205 convicted males and four females, and 131 inmates on death row. The sheer numbers raise fresh concerns about overcrowding and the deteriorating conditions within Nigeria’s custodial facilities.
Despite mounting evidence and inmate testimonies, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has denied all allegations. When contacted, the Service’s spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, dismissed the claims as false and misleading.
“These claims are not true,” he said. “The daily feeding allowance was increased from N750 to N1,125 by the president—an upward review of 50%. We also receive donations and food supplies from NGOs. The food is plentiful and stored securely, with only inmate leaders having access—not the staff.”
But the inmates tell a different story—one of starvation, suffering, and a system that has abandoned them.
These damning accounts echo the longstanding crisis within Nigeria’s correctional system—marked by underfunding, overcrowding, and a lack of independent oversight. While the government has made cosmetic adjustments, such as increasing the food allowance, critics argue that deeper structural reforms are urgently needed.
Human rights advocates are calling for immediate investigations into the Jos Custodial Centre, independent monitoring of prison conditions nationwide, and accountability for officials found to be complicit in abuse or neglect.
As one inmate chillingly put it: “We are no longer treated like humans—we are treated like animals, forgotten by society.”
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