Effect Of Insecurity On Nigeria Correctional Centres

Project and Seminar Material for Sociology

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the effect of insecurity on Nigeria correction centre using some selected prisons in Abuja, FCT Nigeria. The study was carried out to find out the prevalence of insecurity in Nigeria correction centers; find out the extent insecurity contributes to attacks on Nigeria correction centers and prison breaks; find out whether depleted situation of security networks of Nigeria correctional centre contributes to prison break in Nigeria; and find out other factors contributing to the prevalence of prison breaks in Nigeria correction centers. In determining the sample size, the researcher purposefully selected 160 respondents and 141 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables, and mean scores. While the hypotheses was tested chi-square statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that insecurity highly contributes to attacks on Nigeria correction centers and prison breaks. Also the depleted situation of security networks of Nigeria correctional centre contributes to prison break in Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that government should, as a matter of priority, construct maximum security prisons along international standards. These should house convicts who are terrorists, violent and hardened criminals. In view of recent handshake of local terrorists with ISWAP in the nation, custodial centers are prime targets in attempts to free their commanders. Safety and security of inmates and corrections staff is of prime importance. However, due to the state of the economy, it is advised that Government consider allowing international companies well versed in managing prisons to build, operate these custodial centers. The service agreements must cater for the rights of inmates and custodial staff. To mention but a few.

Table of Content

Title Page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table of Content
List of Tables
Abstract

Chapter One:

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objective of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Research Hypothesis
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Limitation of the Study
1.9 Definition of Terms
1.10 Organisations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sample Size Determination
3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
3.6 Method of Data Collection
3.7 Method of Data Analysis
3.8 Validity of the Study
3.9 Reliability of the Study
3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

4.1 Data Presentation
4.2 Analysis of Data
4.3 Answering Research Questions
4.4 Test of Hypothese

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
References
APPENDIX
QUESTIONNAIRE

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Security concerns are taken seriously all around the world. It is regarded as one of the most basic obligations of any state. The first responsibility of a king, according to Adam Smith (cited in Nwolise, 2010), is to provide protection from the public purse. The Nigeria Prisons Service, despite being the lowest in the country’s criminal justice hierarchy (after the police and the judiciary being the first and second respectively).), is an important member of the security sector. It takes lawful custody of all those certified by the court to be kept and produces them in the court. . Wright (1982) wrote that prisons are generally expected to carry out the following functions: (a) Deterrence Prisons are expected to deter individuals from committing crime. So one reason for sending the offender to prison for a crime is to make him less likely to commit further crimes through fear of more imprisonment. (b) Protection: Protecting the public from certain offenders. The aim of this second reason is to send offenders to prison to render them incapable of committing crimes. (c) Rehabilitation: Offenders are sent to prisons to rehabilitate them, so that they no longer need to commit crimes

However The Nigeria Prison has suddenly become a source of internal security threat. Prison facilities in Edo, Ondo,, Enugu, Koton karfe, Oko among others have in recent times been attacked and a number of hardened criminals who got released into the society. Also, fatal riots have been recorded in prison facilities in Agodi and Owerri.

The height of insecurity has manifested under the umbrella of endsars protest which was hijacked by hoodlums and IPOB agitations which has been hijacked by unknown gunmen to cause menace on Nigeria Prison Service. The effect of this is that, the more these criminal are released into the society, the more futile efforts of curbing insecurity will linger. Therefore it is upon this premise that this study is set to examine the effect of insecurity on Nigeria Correctional Centre.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The insecurity level in Nigeria has become a great concern. Ranging from terrorist attacks to banditry activities, herders crises, unknown gunmen attacks on citizens and military, prison/jail break by masked and kidnapping of children makes living more scary than it used to be. Security issues in the country can no longer be treated with a kid glove.The sophistication with which some of the armed groups carry out their attack seems to overwhelm the prison guards (allAfrica.com).A contributory factor to this is masterminded by the growing influence of several non-state actors which is one of the reasons why the prison service has become vulnerable. The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro (2014) confirmed this ugly situation. He noted that security equipment in the prison facilities across the country are outdated and need to be fortified (Punch Newspaper, March 15, 2014). The training and armoury of the service are certainly not sophisticated enough for contemporary challenges. Machiavelli, in The Prince, considered provision of good arms and equipment as necessary for upholding a country’s national security.The awaiting trial detainees who are truly innocent would acquire negative values and criminal skills from the convicted inmates and thus, aggravating the security problem in the land. The Lagos Police command arrested a 22-year old for armed robbery .It was gathered that the suspect was among the awaiting trial inmates pardoned by the state Governor in pursuant to the provisions of section1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act, CAP C40,2007. Similarly, Punch Newspaper of Wed. June 19, 2013 reported the case of one, Majiyagbe Bashiru who was sentenced to a five-year prison term in Ikoyi Prison. He claimed that he formed his robbery gang from inside Ikoyi Prison. The above example further reveals how much of security risk being generated from within the prison facility and why the rate of recidivism is high. Therefore it is against this backdrop that this study is set to examine the effect of insecurity on Nigeria Correctional Centre.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The focus of this study is to examine the effect of insecurity on Nigeria correction centre. Specifically the study will;

Find out the prevalence of insecurity in Nigeria correction centers.
Find out the extent insecurity contributes to attacks on Nigeria correction centers and prison breaks.
Find out whether depleted situation of security networks of Nigeria correctional centre contributes to prison break in Nigeria.
Find out other factors contributing to the prevalence of prison breaks in Nigeria correction centers.

1.4 Research Question

What is the prevalence of insecurity in Nigeria correction centers?
What is the extent insecurity contributes to attacks on Nigeria correction centers and prison breaks?
Does the depleted situation of security networks of Nigeria correctional centre contributes to prison break in Nigeria?
What are the other factors contributing to the prevalence of prison breaks in Nigeria correction centers?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: The depleted situation of security network of Nigeria correctional centre does not contribute to prison break in Nigeria.
Ho: The depleted situation of security network of Nigeria correctional centre contributes to prison break in Nigeria Correctional centres.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This research would benefit the general population and add to the body of expertise. The research would be extremely beneficial to the Nigeria Correctional Services and, by implication, all levels of government in Nigeria, as it would expose the impact of jailbreaks on the country’s security while also highlighting ways to prevent them. The study will contribute to the general body of knowledge. Students, writers, and academics who are involved in conducting more studies in this area may find the analysis extremely useful.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study covers on the effect of insecurity on Nigeria correction centre. The study will examine the factors that makes for easy jail break in Nigeria correctional Centre. It will suggest how prison break can be managed by Nigeria correctional centre. The study is delimited selected Prisons in Abuja, FCT Nigeria.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

The following factors poses to be a limitation during the course of this research

Financial constraint

Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint

The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Insecurity:

Insecurity is a state of not being secure, it represent lack of defense and fear and confidence.

National Security:

National security or national defence is the security and defence of a nation state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government.

Prison:

A prison, also known as a jail or gaol, penitentiary, detention center, correction center, correctional facility, lock-up or remand center, is a facility in which inmates are forcibly confined and denied a variety of freedoms under the authority of the state as punishment for various crimes.

Prison Break:

Prison Break is an unlawful act under Nigerian law, of a prisoner forcing their way out of a prison.It can also be described as attacks on the Nigerian Prisons Services by terrorists, gunmen and armed robbers in which many prisoners are released. Often, when this occurs effort are made by the Nigerian Prisons Services in conjunction with security agency to rearrest the escapee and return them to the prison and this may result in the extension of their jail term.

1.10 Organization of the Study

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings onthe effect of insecurity on Nigeria correction centre using some selected prisons in Abuja, FCT Nigeria.The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was to examine the effect of insecurity on Nigeria correction centre using some selected prisons in Abuja, FCT Nigeria. The study specifically was aimed to find out the prevalence of insecurity in Nigeria correction centers; find out the extent insecurity contributes to attacks on Nigeria correction centers and prison breaks; find out whether depleted situation of security networks of Nigeria correctional centre contributes to prison break in Nigeria; and find out other factors contributing to the prevalence of prison breaks in Nigeria correction centers.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 141 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents areprison warders and officers in selected prisons in Abuja.

5.3 Conclusions

Based on the findings of this study, the researcher made the following conclusion.

There is a prevalence of insecurity in Nigeria correction centers.
Insecurity highly contributes to attacks on Nigeria correction centers and prison breaks. Also the depleted situation of security networks of Nigeria correctional centre contributes to prison break in Nigeria.
Other factors contributing to the prevalence of prison breaks in Nigeria correction centers include; corruption, poor funding of the prison services, depleted prison facilities, inadequate security features such as CCTV, motion sensors, and high wall made up of barbed wire and sometimes electric fencing of the wall.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered.

Government should, as a matter of priority, construct maximum security prisons along international standards. These should house convicts who are terrorists, violent and hardened criminals. In view of recenthandshake of local terrorists with ISWAP in the nation, custodial centers are prime targets in attempts to free their commanders. Safety and security of inmates and corrections staff is of prime importance. However, due to the state of the economy, it is advised that Government consider allowing international companies well versed in managing prisons to build, operate these custodial centers. The service agreements must cater for the rights of inmates and custodial staff.
Awaiting Trial Persons should be separated from convicts and housed in separate holding centers. State of the art security and technological devices for the nation’s maximum security centers where hardened criminals and terrorists are detained pending and during trial should be given priority. High risk terrorists should not be kept in medium security prisons as happened in the Kuje custodial center.
Intelligence gathering and sharing is key to an effective security architecture in the nation. Better synergy and inter-agency cooperation should be created between surrounding communities that play host to the custodial centers and between security agencies.
The in situ security teams are the first line of defense in the custodial centers both for attempts to break out of prison and external aggression. Thus, they should be well armed well-coordinated in line with section 28 of the 2019 Act.
Better coordinated response time should be worked out between custodial centers, and government security agencies when they come under attack.
Judicial Commissions of Enquiry or independent panels should be set up to enquire into persistent jail breaks and external attacks by gunmen on the nation’s correctional centers. Incidences of disappearance, or death should be covered also. Public representation should be allowed as mandated in Rule 71 of the Mandela Rules.
Non-governmental agencies should pursue payment of appropriate compensation to inmates and corrections staff who lose their lives or suffer serious bodily injury during externally provoked attacks in accordance with section 32 of the Act.
Prison Administration should devise an internal grievance mechanism for inmates to make complaints. Rule 56 of the Nelson Mandela Rules allows prisoners to make complaints to prison inspectors. This will serve to reduce frustration and aggression of inmates over prison conditions, arrest systemic failures or custodial staff misconduct, which tends to boil over to prisoner violence and attempted jail breaks.