Feb. 6, 2024

An inmate of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikoyi with visual impairment regained his sight after a surgery was performed on him while in the facility, an official said on Tuesday.

Julius Ogueri, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) in charge of the centre disclosed this on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Lagos.

According to him, after three years of the visual impairment, the centre took it upon itself to seek assistance to correct the challenge through surgery.

He said that upon embarking on a fund raiser, some well meaning Nigerians, NGOs, churches and even officials of the centre and inmates reached out, and the surgery was successfully carried out.

“I want to state here that we are here for each other, irrespective of where we may find ourselves.

“Custodial centres are for human beings who also deserve care, love and attention.

“Notably, in the year 2023, through the glory of God, the surgery was carried out and as of today, the inmate has fully regained his sight.

“This can only be the miracle of God, hence I want to urge us all to render help in our little ways, to show love.

“There is need for more of that collaboration in the reformation and empowerment of inmates, for a more secure and progressive society.

“This is because government cannot do it all alone; there is, therefore, the need for more collaboration in the area of needs interventions,” he said.

According to him, the inmates are part of the larger society and deserve attention that will enable them to key into the development agenda of not just themselves, but their communities and the country at large.

He said that the centre organised a special thanksgiving/ awards ceremony as well as inauguration of projects earlier in the week.

“The reason for the occasion was to celebrate God Almighty in His infinite mercy.

“We give glory to God for His love and care over the entire inmates and staff of this facility.

“We thank God too for His divine intervention in this facility and also used the occasion to recognise and celebrate some deserving Nigerians who have contributed in no small measure, in ensuring that these inmates and the facility itself are given the deserved attention.

“They have invested their resources in looking after them, so that the society can be better for it, as well as give them that sense of belonging.

“We also commissioned projects such as two boreholes, a solitary cell, a refurbished ambulance ,as well as the Correctional Education Special Centre,” he stated.

Ben-Rabbi Freedman, Controller of Correction, Lagos State Command had said that there was the need for a change in perception about the role of Correctional centres in the country.

“If you can understand us, then we are better for it, as a country and as a people.

“One of the biggest challenges we are having is lack of understanding and lack of support, among others.

“If you should understand us, you will discover that we are not just keeping persons here that the state remanded.

“There are some of them here that the church, their families and the society rejected them and they come here.

“We in turn work on them, empower them, give them the capacity and return them to the society.

“Some of them as Pastors, some as Imams, some PhD and Master’s holders and some as carpenters and and so on,” he said.

The controller said he was giving the instance to underscore the fact that those that understood the centre to the extent that they commit their resources into the facility, into some of such persons that were somehow ‘rejected’ by the society, were appreciated.

“I just want to appreciate these persons for their continuous support and collaboration as I urge them not to relent.

“They should always feel free to walk into any of the facilities and interface with any of the officers in charge.

“There are several areas of needs that should attract your possible intervention,” he said.

One of the awardees, Mrs. Joke Aladesanmi, Executive Director, Centre for Legal Support and Inmates Rehabilitation (CELSIR) told NAN that she felt excited by the recognition.

According to her, no award can be more prestigious like the one from the community one serves.

“We are very happy that our effort and contribution toward the rehabilitation of incarcerated persons is recognised and appreciated.

“ We are grateful to the DCC of the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and other officials of the facility for this award.

“In the past, we have done some interventions by way of providing the facility’s school with a well equipped library, virtual class for inmates to prepare them for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates as well as other educational materials and sponsorship.

“We also take them through Creativity Writing training with certification as well as organise a quarterly motivational session tagged ‘a better me’ among others.

“My assurance is that we will not relent. We will continue to do more in our quest to give the inmates that sense of belonging,” she said. (NAN)