By Deborah Hassan
356Daily– Worried about the incessant jailbreaks across the country, members of the House of Representatives have urged the Federal Government to provide sophisticated weapons for officers guarding Correctional Centres in the country.
This was sequel to the adoption of recommendations moved by Hon. Gudaji Kazaure (APC-Jigawa) during the plenary of Thursday, November 18, 2021.
Recall that gunmen attacked an Oyo State correctional centre on Friday, October 22, 2021, where more than 800 inmates were freed.
Similarly, the correctional centres in Edo, Kogi and Imo States were attacked by hoodlums.
Leading debate on the motion, Kazaure recalled recent cases of jailbreaks in the country which led to destruction of many correctional centres.
He lamented that the consequences of the jaibreak was dangerous for the society, especially as the escaped inmates integrate with other innocent Nigerians.
“If adequate steps are not taken to re-arrest escaped convicts and provide adequate security in correctional centres, some of the criminals who escaped may become more emboldened to the point of forming terrorist groups that will put the country in jeopardy,’’ he said.
Subsequently, the House urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate and upgrade the correctional centres with the latest sophisticated weapons such as GPMG.
It also recommended that security electric fence wires attached with shocking gadgets and highly sophisticated CCTV cameras should be provided for correctional centres.
In addition, the Green Chamber urged the Executive to take over payment of electricity bills for correctional centres or exempt them from paying the bills.
In his ruling, the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase (APC-Plateau), directed all the relevant committees to ensure that the resolutions of the motion are complied with.