Hundreds of inmates at the Jos Correctional Center in Plateau State took to protest on Friday against the authorities’ decision to reduce their rice and beans rations due to the surging prices of essential commodities.
The agitation arose during a meeting called by the officer in charge of food distribution around 11:45 am.
The inmates were briefed on the discussions with the food supplier, which centered on the escalating costs of essential goods and the proposed reduction in rice consumption from four times a week to twice per week.
The inmates responded negatively to this news, expressing their dissatisfaction through violent means, including hurling stones and other objects at the staff. In response to the unrest, officials had to resort to firing warning shots into the air to quell the disturbance.
Confirming the incident, Comptroller of Corrections for Plateau State Command, Ibihunwa Raphael, explained, “The inmates’ protest was triggered by the contractor’s decision to decrease their rice consumption from four times a week to twice weekly.”
He elaborated on the unfolding events, stating, “So this morning, as usual, I went to the yard to see what was going on there. I saw an officer addressing the inmates, and when I asked what was going on, he told me he was briefing them on the outcome of his conversation with the contractor.”
Raphael detailed the contractor’s explanation: “He said the contractor stated that he would not be able to feed them rice four times a week again because of the high cost of things in the market and could only cope by reducing it to twice a week.”
The Comptroller further revealed the response of the inmates to the news, explaining, “When he called them this morning to explain things to them, they didn’t like it. So when I was informed, I told him to tell them to get back to their rooms, and they refused to go back.”
To restore order, Raphael said, “Some canisters of tear gas are released, and gunshots are fired into the air to force them into their rooms. That was how we were able to save the situation. Before that, they had started throwing stones and other objects at the staff.”
