The withdrawal of personnel of the Nigerian Army from all custodial centres in Ondo state has been vehemently condemned by the state governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in what the described as a clear step to inducing jailbreaks
The Governor made his position known In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde on Wednesday, after receiving the full briefing on the situation from the Commissioner of Police, Oyediran Oyeyemi at the government house.
Governor Akeredolu lamented on the possible reasons why soldiers will be withdrawn from custodial centres which belonging to the federal government.
More worrisome is the manner at which the report was presented and response emanating from queries on the source of the action as this was seen only as “order from above.”
The statement of the press secretary goes thus.
“Last night, Governor Akeredolu received reports from the Commissioner of Police in the state that soldiers attached to the custodial centres in the state have all been withdrawn. This development came as a surprise, considering the fact that both the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Correctional Service belong to the Federal Government. The Governor was more bothered about the overflow effect of the soldiers’ withdrawal on the security situation in the state. More so that such action could easily encourage jailbreaks across the state. It is, however, pertinent to alert members of the public and the Federal Government of this unwholesome situation. Findings into the remote cause of this action has only revealed that it was an order from above without corresponding details.”
The state government however said despite the situation, proactive efforts have been made to secure custodial centres so as not to allow premeditated jailbreaks, adding that “whoever gave the order to withdraw those soldiers was in the process of encouraging such.”
Akeredolu has also met with other security heads in the state, particularly the Police, and charged them to take over their responsibility of internal security in the state. Similarly, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) whose main assignment is to secure Federal Government facilities, has also deployed armed officers to the custodial facilities.
“Governor Akeredolu has also directed the deployment of men of the State Security Network (Amotekun) to complement the Police and the NSCDC. This is to ensure that any premeditated action is tamed and resisted with commensurate force,” the statement added.
Recall that there were cases of violent jail breaks in many states last year, a situation that attracted public concern and has renewed the vigour of the Interior Ministry and security agencies to forestall such circumstances in the current year.
