An official of the Afara Umuahia Correctional centre, Uchemadu Daniel said that the officials at the centre were able to calm over 400 inmates who rioted on October 22, 2020.

 

Uchemadu  said this during his cross examination in a petition between the Aneke Stanley’s family and Comptroller Correctional Service Centre Abia State.

Hon Ikechukwu Chikadibia M. had petitioned the comptroller on behalf of Aneke Stanley, an inmate in the correctional centre, before the Abia State panel of Inquiry, alleging that Stanley was shot by the arm-bearing officials who shot sporadically during the revolt staged by the inmates.

In his witness, Uchendu said the officials courageously resisted the rioters by appealing to the kingpins who inturn encouraged other revolters to stand down.

According to the official, the inmates of E- ward on hearing that those billed to appear in court on that said date, would no longer appear, revolted, broke out through the ceiling, boring holes on the perimeter fence in an attempt to escape.

” They attempted jail break and rioting occurred at about 9am. It made all the officers to stay back that day. We worked 24hours for two weeks after that incident.

“We are trained to appeal to the conscience of inmates. We know those ones who are the kingpins, so we appeal to them to calm the others , telling them that what they are doing isn’t right.

“On  that day, no body shot inside the prison yard. We do not allow arms inside the premises.

” The police, army, and civil defense came but they stood outside the gate.

” Aneke Stanley was not shot by anybody.

“E-ward block, housing four cells was de-roofed by the inmates. They perforated the walls with part of F-ward.

” After they broke free, they rushed to the workshop, took instruments and was destroying the facilities.

” Average number of inmates in a cell is between 40/48 because we get admissions daily. As at that period, the centre housed about 800 inmates. More than 400 inmates rioted that day.

” About 100 officials resisted the rioting inmates” he explained.

On the possibility of inmates escaping through the ceiling, the witness said;

” Umuahia Correctional centre is an old building with asbestos. The inmates has double bunk beds, from there, they can escape but they can’t escape outside the premises, they will still jump into the yard” Uchemadu further said.

The matter was adjourned till April 13, for adoption of addresses.