***Delta Govt Summon Comptroller of Prison
Cell phones which ought to be contraband in Nigeria prisons are now prevalent in prisons in Delta state, Bigpenreports has learnt.
Dependable sources told Bigpenreports that though cell phones are banned, they are often smuggled into the prisons by inmates who allegedly connived with some dubious prison officials.
The prisoners allegedly use the phones to control the flow of drugs both in and out of the prisons premises, control activities outside the prisons as well as relate with members of their families, a source who didn’t want his name on print disclosed.
The source disclosed that some of the hardened prisoners were allegedly using the cell phones to give directives to their gang members, thus jeopardizing the security of the state.
Bigpenreports learnt that the development however came to the fore on Monday when Delta state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa was fielding questions from journalist who sought to know what the state government was doing about the menace.
Confirming the development, Governor Okowa disclosed that the Comptroller of Prison in the state has been summoned to attend the state Security Council Meeting to explain the alleged security breach which could pose grieve danger to the state peace and security agenda.
Governor Okowa who was speaking during a media briefing to herald this year’s Democracy Day and his first year in office celebration, said that he was already aware of such issue which has since come to the knowledge of members of the state security council .
He disclosed that based on the development, an invitation has been sent to the Comptroller of Prisons in the state to attend the next State Security Council meeting.
“I got to know about the situation about a week ago, I had to find out from the Commissioner of Police and he has confirmed that some kidnappings which has occurred was controlled by some individuals in the Prison and we intend to invite the comptroller of Prisons in our next security meeting because we need to know why that is happening and why it is being allowed because it is a very dangerous trend and it is not the best for our security.”
According to him, his administration does not handle the issue of security with kid’s gloves, disclosing that on assumption of office, a 41-member Delta State Peace Building and Advisory Council comprising men and women of proven integrity and exemplary character were inaugurated to tackle the teething problem of peace and security in the state.
“They (Delta State Peace Building and Advisory Council) have been very active in working to implement policies and programmes to increase public safety in Delta State.
“Our strategy is to strengthen, sustain and create the institutions and structures that enable peaceful co-existence among diverse ethnic groups and communities; we are committed to seeing that our cities, towns and communities become places where people feel safe to work, live and do business, he added.
Speaking on the menace of Fulani herdsmen, Governor Okowa disclosed that his administration has taken proactive measures to curb the menace.
“We have been talking about it at the national level; also at the state level a committee has been set up which is made up of the SSG, Police, SSS, Civil Defence, our communities and some Fulani leaders because, we want to ensure that there is an identification of the herdsmen groups that we have in our localities and to create an interface between them and our communities so that together the communities and the herdsmen can work to identify the criminal elements and ensure that those criminals are made to face the law.
“We have gone to the extent of appointing a Special Adviser on the Fulani herdsmen who has been helping us to reach out to the various groups in the state, even to the leadership of the Fulanis that bring in these cattle to the state.”
The governor also spoke about the spate of pipeline vandalism in the state saying that currently, an Advocacy Peace Committee headed by the Deputy Governor Barr. Kingsley Otuaro has been traversing the length and breadth of the riverine communities to hold talks with traditional rulers, community and youth leaders on the need for peace in the region adding; “we are confident of positive outcomes from these interactions”.
He said that on assumption of office, his administration had in collaboration with the local government councils had organised a well-attended One-Day Stakeholders Summit on “Vandalisation of Oil and Gas Facilities” on Wednesday, January 31, 2016, at the Petroleum Training Institute Conference Centre in Effurun, Warri .
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