THE HORRORS OF PRISON LIFE. NIGERIA AS A CASE STUDY.

The prison, hmmmmmmm, most unfortunately rather than be a reformatory place for offenders, has become an institution where inmates graduate exceedingly in crime. Prisoners now come out only to plan for more heinous crimes. Prisons are now hell on earth, turning out devilish beasts and living dead. It has become refuse dumps for both guilty persons and mere suspects awaiting trial.

The issue of prisoners awaiting trial has resulted in gross inhumanity to prisoners. Cases abound where a suspect awaiting trial for an offence punishable with six months imprisonment spent three years or more in prison custody without trial. Is this justice? Who pays for this crime?

A visit to our prisons reveal cases of some prisoners who have over stayed their lawful periods in prison, an alarming number of citizens languishing in prisons for minor offences and congestions. The number awaiting trial is increasing on a daily basis and it is becoming an embarrassment to the nation for too long, the plights of the prisoners have not been properly addressed. The inmates are often subjected to inhuman and degrading treatments in violation of the human rights provisions enshrined in the nations constitution and in line with relevant international conventions and agreement.

More worrisome is the issue of innocent persons in prisons. In Nigeria, the procedure is that every person charged with criminal offence is presumed innocent until he is proved guilty by court of competent jurisdiction. When is fair trial within reasonable time be given?

here are 227 prisons in Nigeria and they all have a few things in common-congestion, dirt, inadequate medical and rehabilitation facilities. As a result, many inmates fall sick and die before they are tried. Is this not man’s inhumanity to man? In recent times, we have heard of riots among inmates due to poor living standards.

Prisoners sleep over themselves on the cold floor with no mat. They cannot turn, they are over crowded, no ventilation, no toilet, and they defecate in toilets that are located inside the room, the room is stuffy with bad odour and mosquitoes. This condition for God’s sake is begging for attention.

 when they are finally freed, it's almost like, *get him outta here before he dies in here* they look sick, some on wheel chair or strechers. Who are they going to meet? A family that may have forgotten them? do they even recollect how or who they really are? Pardon me my readers, you do not want to go there. My visit at the prison and the cry for help lingers in my ears as I write this.

A report by Amnesty International titled “Waiting for the Hangman” published in 2008 shows that most inmates on death row develop psychiatric problems due to mental torture of waiting indefinitely for hangman.

The delays associated with the process of executing condemned prisoners are blamed on the state governors. This led to their collective resolve recently at the national council of state to weed out condemned prisoners for execution as a measure to decongest the over crowded prisons across the country. Reluctant use of prerogative of mercy by some state governors also contributes to this congestion.

The inability of the judges to uphold the tenets of justice and equity also contributes.

The ham-fisted nature of our police and Director of Public Prosecution in our various states are responsible for congestion.

The federal and state government should rise up to the challenge and go beyond the annual ritual of releasing a few prisoners in only one occasion. Let the various ministries of justice ensure that investigating police officers, prosecutors and prison officials, rise up to the challenges of their duties in line with the new world order.

Governors should apply the discretionary power given them liberally by granting amnesty to those awaiting trial for no just cause and for just causes too.

 If you believe that your government needs change, my dear even inmates in solitary deserve that change or may have changed too. Let us pray for these people in prison. They do not wish to be there, they are lovely kids with bright future excited about the same thing you and I craved. But the harsh environment,  lack of emotional control, anger, revenge etc has put them in there.

 It could be any of us. But we must never forget to thank the master of the universe for his grace towards us. You may have been guilty, but u escaped it, some of you didn't escape it, you were condemned but you were later switched and someone else took your place and died for you, doesn't it tell you something? You need to be grateful. Let us not mock anyone.