Protests: FG Declares Prisons ‘Red Zones’, Issues Warning Against Unlawful Entry

In anticipation of the nationwide protests against bad governance set to begin on August 1, the Federal Government has declared all 256 custodial centers across the country as “red zones,” whose sanctity must not be violated.

Controller General of Corrections (CGC), Hailey Nababa, issued this warning in a statement released Tuesday in Abuja.

“In view of the purported national protest scheduled for the first day of August 2024, the Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the public that the Custodial Centres have been designated as red zones; therefore, any person or group of persons with no business there should steer clear,” the CGC stated in the announcement, signed by Service Spokesman ACC Abubakar Danlami Umar.

The statement further emphasized: “Custodial and Non-custodial Centres are critical national assets essential to public safety and national security. Tampering with or attacking these facilities will lead to a breakdown of law and order, exacerbating the overall security situation.”

The CGC urged the public to cooperate with the Service in protecting correctional facilities, assuring that adequate security measures have been implemented to safeguard these centers. The Ministry of Interior Joint Taskforce (MOIJTF) has been activated to provide additional security around custodial facilities nationwide.

Controller General Haliru Nababa FICMC, MFR, mni, expressed gratitude for the public’s continued cooperation in maintaining peace and tranquility around correctional centers. He also encouraged the public to report any suspicious activities to info@corrections.gov.ng, through the official website www.corrections.gov.ng, or by calling 09060004598 or 08075050006 directly.