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In a stirring turn of events, inmates at the Correctional Centre in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, staged a protest on Friday in response to plans to diminish their food ration.
Reports indicate that the demonstration ensued following intelligence regarding the impending reduction in the size of their food portions, a decision believed to be driven by the escalating cost of living across the nation.
The surge in the cost of essentials has ignited protests in various parts of the country, with youths, women, and the Nigerian Labour Congress alike taking to the streets to articulate their grievances against the prevailing economic hardships.
Expressing their discontent, the inmates reportedly defied directives from custodial officials and abstained from partaking in their morning meal.
In response to the protest, custodial authorities resorted to the use of tear gas to quell the unrest and compel the inmates back to their respective quarters. Amidst the chaos, the prison yard reverberated with the fervent cries of the detainees.
Confirming the incident, Comptroller Raphael Ibinuhi of the Jos Correctional Centre attributed the decision to curtail the food ration to the exorbitant prices of commodities in the market.
Ibinuhi elaborated, stating, “The problem has to do with the high cost of goods in the market. The contractor in charge of the foods said they are being forced by the price of food items to reduce the size of the plate of foods.”
He further remarked, “So, it is the food size that provoked the protest. I don’t think the protest is necessary because the food challenge and the cost of items are national issues that the Federal Government is already addressing.”
Emphasizing the government’s efforts in mitigating the adverse effects of the economic downturn, Ibinuhi expressed optimism that measures undertaken by the authorities would alleviate the situation, resonating across various sectors, including correctional facilities nationwide.
