Friday, November 14, 2025 - The Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, Akwa Ibom State Command, has confirmed the d3ath of two awaiting trial inmates following an explosion from a faulty transformer located near the Uyo Custodial Centre.
The incident which occurred two weeks ago, also left two
other inmates with injuries.
According to reports, the transformer exploded, causing a
high-voltage wire to snap and fall within the custodial premises, causing an
electrocution that led to the death of the inmates.
The incident caused a blackout in the area and damage to
electrical appliances in the centre.
The Akwa Ibom State Controller of Corrections, Frank
Okonkwo, confirmed the tragic passing of the two awaiting-trial inmates of the
Uyo Custodial Centre on Thursday, November 13.
Okonkwo, who regretted that the explosion also damaged all
electrical appliances at the centre, disclosed that the victims were thrown up
from where they were sitting and were later rushed to the University of Uyo
Teaching Hospital by the facility’s doctor, where they were pronounced dead.
He disclosed that the victims were awaiting trial for
conspiracy, kidnapping, and armed robbery, noting, however, that they were
presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court.
He said the families had been contacted and that one of them
had concluded the process for the retrieval of the corpse, adding that the
command would only release the corpses upon completion of investigations.
“It was very unfortunate, because the thing caused a lot of
damage, both to our facility and the families of the deceased," Okomkwo
said.
“When that explosion occurred at the transformer, officials
of PHEDC came and said the explosion was a result of too much voltage. The
thing affected us in that it actually destroyed or damaged all electrical
appliances, computers, etc., in our facility.
“It affected our barracks as well, and even the official
residence of the officer in charge. But the most painful aspect of it was that
it affected two of our inmates, who finally lost their lives as they were
rushed to the hospital.
“They were thrown off from where they were staying, and
immediately our medical personnel administered first aid, and rushed them to
the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where they were later confirmed dead.
“It was a big loss, both to themselves and to the inmates,
especially when they were just awaiting trial. One of them was standing trial
for conspiracy and kidnapping, the other one for armed robbery.”
The controller, who recalled that the same transformer was
faulty a few years back, called on the relevant authorities to address the
issue to forestall a recurrence.
He added that the legal department was investigating the
matter and would present a comprehensive report accordingly.
Okonkwo also disclosed plans by the command to organise a
rehabilitation and empowerment programme for inmates who had gone through
rehabilitation, saying such inmates had acquired some skills and would be given
start-up packs to enable them to be fully integrated when they were eventually
discharged into the larger society.
According to him, the programme would enable them to be
useful to themselves as well as to the community, so that they would not have
any cause to reoffend and return to the custodial centre again.
“We are looking at 30 for now because the financing is going
to be huge, because we relying mainly on the goodwill of our donors and
organisations, those who have acquired various skills while in our custody,
different skills like tailoring, carpentry, barbing and welding, and we intend
to draw the beneficiaries from various custodial centres — Uyo, Ikot Abasi,
Ikot Ekpene and Eket.
“Those who are serving terms but are on the verge of being
discharged between now and December are convicts who have successfully accepted
our treatment regime by getting themselves usefully engaged when they were in
our custody. Those are the ones we want to show appreciation to by organising
this programme.”
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