BEVERLY HILLS, August 29, (THEWILL) – Detained leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Charles Okah, has claimed threat to his life in the disquiet that rocked Kuje Prison, Abuja, arising from the “indiscriminate gunshots” fired by officials of the Nigeria Prison Service, NPS,
A lock down was reported in the facility on Monday morning, which saw officials reportedly throwing tear-gas at the inmates to cow them because of the last jail break. But the inmate denied that there was any jail break attempt being hatched.
“There is no jail break, yet they woke up this morning to started shooting teargas at us,” the prisoners were heard as saying.
Lawyers of Charles Okah, one of the inmates at the prison, disclosed in a statement, that: “We are solicitors to CHARLES TONBRAH OKAH, in particular, and the entire inmates of Kuje Medium Security Prison in Abuja (whom we shall hereinafter, collectively refer to as “our clients”),” the lawyers said in a statement.
“It is our clients’ brief that Kuje Prison is currently under attack from members of the Nigerian Prisons Service armed squad who are indiscriminately firing gun shots and tear gas into the air.
“This has created pandemonium and violated the fundamental rights of the inmates, particularly, Mr. Charles Okah who has a known medical history which is incompatible with tear gas, gunshots, etc.
“We are, by virtue of this notice to Nigerians and the international community, particularly, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL and GLOBAL WITNESS, making it clear that the Nigerian Prisons Service is already in breach of the fundamental rights of the inmates of Kuje Prison.
“Our clients therefore reserve the right to sue and seek redress for the breach.”
