Following the degrading of Islamic militants Boko Haram, the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) has reopened eight out of the nine Satellite Prisons in Bauchi State closed in 2012 in the wake of the activities of insurgency.
Due to the insurgency some prisons in the North Eastern zone have been closed down.
Controller-General of Prisons Ja’afaru Ahmed said that the service took the action after securing the approval of the Honourable Minister of Interior Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd).
According to the CG, the satellite prisons reopened this week include Alkaleri, Burra, Darazo, Katagum, Shira, Tafa Balewa and Toro, adding that the ninth satellite prison will however remain closed till it’s conducive enough to receive prisoners under safe and humane conditions.
According to the release, the Controller-General of Prisons has re-opened eight out of the nine Satellite Prisons in Bauchi State in the Northeast closed in 2012 in the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency after securing the approval of the Minister of Interior.
“The satellite prisons are Alkaleri, Burra, Darazo, Katagum, Shira, Tafa Balewa and Toro. They were reopened on August 15, 2016. Gamawa, the 9th satellite prison will however remain closed till it’s conducive enough to receive prisoners under safe and humane conditions.
“Prisoners are drawn from main prisons that had borne the burden of accommodating inmates in the state while the insurgency lasted. The re-opening of the satellite prisons will significantly reduce congestion and the attendant management difficulties in the main prisons across the state,” the statement added.