A Nigerian man has given a damning verdict about Nigeria, saying he doesn’t see the country getting better.
His verdict was based on his experience in a Nigerian prison facility which he described as agonising and more like a death sentence.
In a lengthy Twitter thread, the man identified simply as Wole bemoaned the deplorable state of the Nigerian Prisons and how inmates are subjected to a very poor living standard.
Wole said the prison is so overcrowded that inmates sleep on themselves but he had to pay N10,000 to the prison marshall before he could get a space under a bed to sleep because he could not afford N30,000 for a bed space.
He said his stay there made him realise there are so many teenagers in jail for offense they didn’t commit.
He advised social media users to watch how they move around town and not stay out too late, saying there are thousands of inmates who did not commit any offense but are in jail because the Nigerian police do not do proper investigation before arraigning suspects in court, which always lands them in jail.
He tweeted via his handle @SirWoley:
“I don’t like to remember or talk about my prison experience, the reason why I have been mute about it all through. The life there is sickening! It is an experience that can drain you for life. I’m not talking about prison in general, I’m talking about the NIGERIAN PRISON.
“Nigeria is ruined tbh (to be honest). And I don’t think we would ever get out of this terrible state till death. I am not being negative, I’m a very optimistic person but I have seen it all trust me.
“To start with, I think Nigeria is the only country where you are accused for something and without proof or evidence to show, you can be in jail for the rest of your life. If you know you don’t have families to fight for you, please don’t be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“Do you know there are teenagers in the Nigerian prison??? Small boys barely 18 are there for crimes they did not commit or know absolutely nothing about????
“While I was there, there was this boy they always call chin- chin in my cell. I kept wondering why they always called him that and asked him one day – Guy come here, why do they call you chin-chin all the time? guess his reply? “I was hungry and I stole chin chin” that was what brought him to prison. He looked gentle. I was 100% sure the boy is barely 20 years old. My heart was filled with tears but I could not cry so he doesn’t feel too bad. I asked again, are you sure that is what brough you here? He said “nothing else bro” and I was shocked!
“I guess he does not have people to fight for him, or probably his parents/family are tired of trying. If you know what it cost to get out of prison, you will be shocked! Everything I’m saying to you right now is real. No jokes.
“There was another young guy, I was particular about these young boys cos I kept wondering what they would have done to be in prison. If you see guys 30-40 years old in there, true or not you will lowkey feel they committed the crime. But not these young boys.
“There was this boy, he works for his oga, the oga just came one day and accused him of stealing 200k from his shop. The boy said he barely stayed 3 days in a police cell before he was brought to prison. A boy barely 20 years old!
“No proper investigation, nothing was done! I thought Prison was for people with serious cases. people who have been convicted for crimes committed with “evidence” or they were caught in the act??? When did it turn a place for keeping suspects like small boys????
“You know what made this particular case worse? It is the fact that the parent/family of the boy wanted to settle out of court. Saying sir, please give us 2 months, we would pay so and so monthly to cover up but the OGA did not agree. It was hurting!!!
“The boy, I had to ask him again, Just gist me guy, did you move this money? He was like “bros, we are here together. There is absolutely nothing to be corny about, I did not steal his money.” Argh! I lost hope in Nigeria! This time a tear dropped!
“After a week of pleading & loaning money here & there, his family was able to sort the OGA and the boy was released on bail. Is that how Nigeria works guys?? You mean someone can randomly accuse you for something and before you know it, you are fucking in jail! With nothing to show??
“I’ll talk about one more guy, David. He said he lives around Ajah. On his way home after work, his usual routine of getting home 11-12 pm. He was stopped by the police and their usual “raiding” they do. Packed with other boys and he has spent 7 months in prison!
“If you know what it means to spend a day in the NIGERIAN PRISON you will be shocked! How do you just pack boys in the street, take them to your cell and from there court and next thing jail straight up! Don’t you have conscience??
“Before I left, the boys family was still trying to settle bail terms. It has been hard for them. They have spent heaven and earth to get him out to no avail. I hope the guy is out by now.
“It is not just about the young boys alone. There are many other mad duck ups about the NIGERIAN PRISON. Is it the terrible food they serve, or how they place inmates like sardines to sleep on top each other??? If you want me to continue, I will.
Wole went further to narrate the poor quality of foods being served in the prisons and how overcrowded the prisons are that inmates who can’t afford to pay for bed space had to sleep on themselves on the floor.
He wrote:
“Have you ever imagined what it feels like eating in a Nigerian Prions? Please don’t! You can’t even guess correctly. The food there, some animals will reject it. I’m talking about them serving you beans that looks like water and has no taste. Giving you raw garri as lunch.
“I’m talking about serving you garri with no sugar! Just raw garri in plates. No sugar, water, milk or anything to it. Just raw garri for your chewing pleasure.
“There are about 3 or 4 foods in the Nigerian prison. Watery beans and dead ass garri. The garri are those ones that blind your eyes over time when you eat them too much. Yes you heard me correctly. At some point, these inmates don’t see properly again, cos too much of this garri.
“The other is Eba and egusi, they won’t even make the eba well to start with, talk more of the egusi it feels like hellfire. Egusi that tastes like water. Guys, what does water taste like again? It is tasteless!!! And they served rice. Will be honest with you guys, this was the Only average food I could eat. Not cos it was sweet, but aspa you can chew rice alone now. Cos the stew was trash. Imagine putting 2-3 spoons of stew inside 2 paint of rice. Yeah, that’s what it felt like. It was hell. That was the only food everyone eats, cos at least you can
“Eat raw rice and still be fine let’s leave the food part. We move to the numbers in the cells. Here is probably the toughest part of it all if it’s time to sleep, it’s time to cry.
“Think about this, look at your room; look around very well. It is just you right? Yeah, it’s comfort and you don’t want anyone else. Imagine if your room had like 200 people inside it. Just the thought of it alone is sickening right? That’s how the NIGERIAN PRISON is.
“Imagine them placing like over 200 inmates in one room. Now forget about if they committed the crimes or not. Actualize what I’m saying here. A small room filled with 200+ people. Do you know what it feels like ??? You can’t even fucking breath! Talkless of sleeping!!!
“I fucking paid to sleep under a bed! Yes, there are payments in the Nigerian prison. Every time they bring in a new inmate, the prison guards are angry and it’s understandable. The marshals of each cell are angry and it is understandable. Too many persons, too little space!
“I paid about N10,0000 (10k) to sleep under a bed. Full time bed space cost about 30k or so. I could not afford that at that time. If you would keep inmates, for crimes committed or not! At least put them in a safe and comfortable place. Not like you are leaving them to die.
“Imagine me paying 10k to sleep under a bed. You should understand what it felt like to sleep in the general place. They sleep on top of each other. Yehhhh! You heard me right. They sleep in chains! People sleep on top of you.
“You can’t fucking move your legs! Ah I was ready to go to hell then. Cos earth was trash and the life and stress were not worth it. Guys, there are thousands of inmates who did not do shit and are in jail! The Nigerian police do not do proper investigation, please watch yourselves.
“Know your movements and do not stay out too late. You could be the next person for doing absolutely nothing. Nigeria can never be better. Care for yourself and your family till death.”
See his tweet:
I don’t like to remember or talk about my prison experience, the reason why I have been mute about it all through. The life there is sickening! It is an experience that can drain you for life. I’m not talking about prison in general, I’m talking about the the NIGERIAN PRISON.
— Sir Wole ?? (@SirWoley) September 9, 2019
