Women Decry Gender Inequality In Prison Decongestion

… As Group Pays Fine For The Release Of IInmates In Suleja Prison

By Matthew Ogune, Abuja

National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has decried gender inequalities in decongestion of correctional centres across the country as directed by the federal government.

The National Public Relation Officer (PRO) of NCWS, Sofiya Ibrahim Ogoh raised this alarm yesterday when the Society Committee Against COVID19 (SOCOCOVID) visited the correctional centre in Suleja, Niger state to secure the release of some inmates.

Lamenting that females were also vulnerable to the dreaded Coronavirus, Ogoh stressed the need for the federal government to facilitate the process of releasing female inmates.

“We are seeking for gender equity for the release of female inmates, it is an appeal that female inmates should be released on equity.

“The Government should understand that the Nigerian woman in the prison is also vulnerable to COVID-19, that the Nigerian woman is even more vulnerable.

“NCWS has noticed with keen interest that no female was on the list of inmates to be released, we are calling on all prisons in Nigeria to focus on the release of female inmates.”

After securing the release of five inmates, the National Coordinator of SOCOCOVID, Kenneth Ibe-Kalu said the gesture was part of the vision of the body to go round the country to secure the release of inmates that have light fines.

Ibe-Kalu added that the group was also on the mission to carryout COVID-19 sensitisation within the prison community and it’s environs to ensure that everyone understands that the country is in danger.

The Coordinator urged the community to reintegrate them into the system, monitor as well as setting up a counseling center for them to be accepted in the community.

Noting that the security agencies were overwhelmed with the ease of the lockdown, he called for a different approach of ensuring that the sensitisation and awareness message is carried to the grassroot.