Prisons reject large number of looters and thugs to curb spread of COVID-19

Prisons reject large number of looters and thugs to curb spread of COVID-19.

The Nigerian Police Force in Lagos State of the country have started to arraign of all suspected hoodlums arrested in connection with the civil unrest in the state after the shootings at #EndSARS protesters by soldiers in Lekki.

At least 520 suspects were apprehended by the Nigerian police in connection to arson, murder, stealing and assault, among others.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the police PRO said that over 200 of the arrested 520 suspects had been arraigned.

However, it was ascertained that the suspects were returned to the police cell after being arraigned in court, instead of being remanded in prison.

Adejobi said, “We have commenced the arraignment of the 520 suspected hoodlums. We have been sharing the suspects to various facilities because it is a state command’s case and the state command has the right to keep the suspects in any of our stations.”

He continues, “The procedure is that whenever we charge suspects to court, they are always remanded in police facilities because of COVID 19. So, the next thing we do is to get them tested for COVID-19 after which they would be received at the correctional centres.”

Additionally, the spokesman for the Nigeria Correctional Service in Lagos, Rotimi Oladokun, said he was not aware that the suspected hoodlums were turned back, but said there was a standing rule that suspects must first run COVID-19 test before being admitted into correctional facilities. Oladokun said, “We have an understanding with all critical stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice in Lagos State. Once the court gives an order for remand, the Lagos State Government conducts COVID-19 test on them. Once they get negative result, they bring them to us. Those who test positive, the government takes them to the treatment centre and upon a negative result, they bring them to the custodial centre.

“The issue of rejection does not arise. That is not factual.”

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Original article written by Jude RichLord / image credit – googleimages