An inmate at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, Stephen Akpan has died after allegedly contracting tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.
It can also spread to other parts of the body, like the brain and spine. A type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes it.
Multiple sources on Monday told SaharaReporters that Akpan died around 6:30 am.
SaharaReporters gathered that the deceased was a prison officer before he was arrested for armed robbery and was charged to the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice Okon Abang.
Akpan’s death led to a riot in the prison facility as other inmates accused the warders of negligence.
“Akpan was our colleague before he was arrested for armed robbery and charged to court,” a senior prison official told SaharaReporters.
“I was told he has been sick for weeks now, but the situation deteriorated last night and the warders on duty refused to attend to him until he gave up the ghost this morning.
“His cell members, I was reliably informed, begged for him to be moved to the isolation centre but the prison authorities refused because they have turned the isolation section to a VIP cell where they used in getting money.
“We just confirmed that he was killed by TB, so other inmates will have to be tested.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that there was palpable tension at the prison as inmates in the early hours of Monday protested against the death of their colleague.
SaharaReporters also reported that the protest was triggered by the death of an inmate who allegedly did not get medical attention.
Sources told SaharaReporters that some prisoners tried to escape from the prison facility amidst the confusion but were prevented by warders.
“The guy has been sick for weeks now, but the situation deteriorated last night and the wardens refused to attend to him until he gave up the ghost around 6:28 am this morning,” a prison official had told SaharaReporters.
Kuje prison in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city was attacked by Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on July 5, 2022, following which hundreds of inmates were freed, including terrorists.
ISWAP terrorist group has claimed it was behind the attack and killings at the prison facility.
Some of the escapees have been recaptured while some have returned voluntarily; however, many of them are still at large.
Source: Sahara Reporters
