From Musa Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
Over 890 inmates are currently serving jail terms in correctional facilities across Cross River State, raising serious concerns about overcrowding and challenges in the state’s criminal justice system.
The State Controller of Corrections, Mr. William Richard FRAI, disclosed this at a town hall meeting organized by the CLEEN Foundation on the Effective Implementation and Sustainability of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).
Richard, represented by Chief Superintendent of Corrections Ibiang Otu, revealed that the Calabar Correctional Center holds 579 inmates, making it the most congested facility in the state.
Other correctional centers and their inmate populations include:
- Adim Farm Center – 37 inmates (all male)
- Ikom Correctional Facility – 69 inmates
- Obubra Correctional Facility – 65 inmates
- Ogoja Correctional Facility – 97 inmates
- Obudu Correctional Facility – 43 inmates
Of the total inmates, 29 are female, highlighting the increasing number of incarcerated women in the state.
Adding to the security concerns, the Comptroller of Immigration, Cross River State Command, CIS Prisca Ogbodo, raised alarms over the influx of undocumented immigrants engaging in criminal activities.
Represented by Superintendent of Immigration (SI) Arisha Ginika, Ogbodo revealed that many foreign nationals, particularly from Cameroon, enter the state to commit crimes, often with the assistance of local collaborators.
“Some Nigerians who harbor these criminals are learning from them and eventually engaging in criminal offenses themselves,” she warned.
Representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid Council, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also expressed concerns over the difficulties in implementing the ACJL.
They cited inadequate facilities and poor cooperation from key stakeholders as major obstacles.
Notably, the Nigerian Police Force was absent from the crucial meeting, raising concerns about their commitment to justice sector reforms.
As Cross River continues to grapple with rising crime rates and overcrowded prisons, stakeholders are calling for urgent reforms to improve the criminal justice system and enhance security measures across the state.