Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed the death of two inmates awaiting trial at the Uyo Custodial Centre following a power surge triggered by a faulty transformer near the facility.
According to officials, the transformer exploded about two weeks ago, causing a high-tension cable to snap and fall on a section of the custodial centre. The incident plunged the area into darkness and left the centre severely affected.
Speaking with journalists from the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Uyo, the State Controller of Corrections, Frank Okonkwo, said the facility bore the brunt of the surge. He lamented that the disaster not only claimed two lives but also injured two staff members and destroyed virtually all electrical equipment within the centre.
Recounting the moment of the explosion, Okonkwo explained that the inmates were violently jolted from where they were sitting. “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,” he said.
He stressed that although the deceased were facing charges related to conspiracy, kidnapping, and armed robbery, they remained legally innocent until a court ruled otherwise. “It was very unfortunate, because the thing caused a lot of damage, both to our facility and the families of the deceased,” he added.
Okonkwo said families of both inmates had been notified, noting that one of the families had already concluded the formalities required to retrieve the body. However, he clarified that the corpses would only be released once investigations were fully completed.
The controller also revealed that the same transformer had malfunctioned some years earlier, though that incident did not result in any casualties. He urged the appropriate authorities to intervene decisively to prevent a repeat of such tragedy.
He disclosed that the NCoS legal department was already probing the matter and would submit a detailed report in due course.
Beyond the tragedy, Okonkwo announced plans by the command to launch a rehabilitation and empowerment initiative for inmates nearing the completion of their sentences. He said many inmates had acquired vocational skills—including tailoring, carpentry, barbing and welding—and would receive starter packs to support their reintegration into society.
“We are looking at 30 for now because the financing is going to be huge,” he explained, noting that the project would rely heavily on donors and partner organisations. Beneficiaries would be drawn from custodial centres in Uyo, Ikot Abasi, Ikot Ekpene and Eket.
He emphasized that the programme would target inmates scheduled for release between now and December—those who had “successfully accepted our treatment regime by getting themselves usefully engaged” while in custody.
Okonkwo added that the NCoS remains committed to gender inclusion, noting that female inmates had also received training in skills such as weaving and pastry making. According to him, the empowerment scheme covers both male and female inmates to ensure they have meaningful prospects after discharge.
