1,076 inmates awaiting trial at Makurdi prisons

By Peter Duru
MAKURDI—No fewer than 1,076 suspects are currently on the awaiting trial list at the Makurdi Medium Prison, out of the 1,375 inmates currently being housed at the facility.

The Comptroller of Prisons in Benue State, Mr. Peter Pevigo, who made this known when he led officials of the command on an official visit to the state Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Michael Gusa, in Makurdi, said of the number, 229 inmates were serving various jail terms.

Pevigo, who lamented the congestion and condition of inmates at the facility, said: “The condition in the prison is pathetic because a room that is supposed to accommodate 36 inmates now houses 121.

“The condition is such that the inmates are prone to epidemic attack, especially as the raining season is gradually giving way to the dry season.”

He urged the Commissioner to use his good offices to impress on the government to grant clemency to some of the inmates, who had been reformed through the efforts of various religions and Governmental Organisations, NGOs, that had trained them in different crafts.

He added: “On our part, we are doing much to reposition the prison, especially in the area of training and reforming of inmates. We urge the government to assist us with tools to help us actualise our objectives.”

Responding, the Justice Commissioner said there were plans by the state government to construct a new cell block at the prison, assuring that Governor Samuel Ortom would soon grant pardon to some of the inmates after the list of beneficiaries has been subjected to proper scrutiny.

 

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