Transformer Explosion K!lls Two Awaiting Trial Prison Inmates, Injures Others In Akwa Ibom

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Akwa Ibom State Command, has officially verified the passing of two inmates who were awaiting trial after an explosion originated from a defective transformer situated close to the Uyo Custodial Centre.

The unfortunate event, which took place approximately two weeks ago, additionally resulted in injuries to two other inmates who were inside the facility.

Eyewitness and official accounts indicate that the transformer suddenly exploded, causing a high-tension electrical cable to break and drop directly into the premises of the custodial centre, thereby triggering electrocution that ultimately caused the fatalities of the two affected inmates.

The explosion plunged the entire vicinity into darkness and caused extensive damage to various electrical gadgets and installations within the correctional centre.

Mr. Frank Okonkwo, the Controller of Corrections for Akwa Ibom State, officially acknowledged on Thursday, November 13, the sorrowful demise of the two individuals who were awaiting trial at the Uyo Custodial Centre.

Okonkwo, expressing deep regret that the blast also destroyed every single electrical appliance inside the centre, revealed that the victims were violently hurled from the spot where they had been seated and were immediately transported by the centre’s medical officer to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where medical personnel subsequently declared them dead on arrival.

He further explained that the deceased persons were facing charges related to conspiracy, kidnapping, and armed robbery, while emphasizing that both remained legally innocent until a court of law determined otherwise.

He stated that the respective families had already been informed, and one family had already finalized arrangements to collect the body of their relative, stressing however that the command would only hand over the corpses after all necessary investigations had been fully concluded.

“It was very unfortunate, because the thing caused a lot of damage, both to our facility and the families of the deceased,” Okomkwo said.

“When that explosion occurred at the transformer, officials of PHEDC came and said the explosion was a result of too much voltage. The thing affected us in that it actually destroyed or damaged all electrical appliances, computers, etc., in our facility.

“It affected our barracks as well, and even the official residence of the officer in charge. But the most painful aspect of it was that it affected two of our inmates, who finally lost their lives as they were rushed to the hospital.

“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.

“It was a big loss, both to themselves and to the inmates, especially when they were just awaiting trial. One of them was standing trial for conspiracy and kidnapping, the other one for armed robbery.”

The controller, who remembered that the very same transformer had previously malfunctioned several years earlier, urged the appropriate authorities to take decisive action to rectify the situation in order to prevent any possibility of the incident happening again in the future.

He mentioned that the legal department of the service was actively carrying out a thorough investigation into the matter and would submit a detailed report once the probe was completed.

Okonkwo additionally revealed that the command was making arrangements to hold a rehabilitation and empowerment initiative targeted at inmates who had successfully completed rehabilitation programmes, explaining that such individuals had learned various vocational skills and would receive starter packs to help them reintegrate completely into society upon their release.

He explained that the initiative was designed to make the beneficiaries productive for themselves and valuable to their communities, thereby removing any incentive for them to commit further offences that could lead them back to the custodial centre.

“We are looking at 30 for now because the financing is going to be huge, because we relying mainly on the goodwill of our donors and organisations, those who have acquired various skills while in our custody, different skills like tailoring, carpentry, barbing and welding, and we intend to draw the beneficiaries from various custodial centres — Uyo, Ikot Abasi, Ikot Ekpene and Eket.

“Those who are serving terms but are on the verge of being discharged between now and December are convicts who have successfully accepted our treatment regime by getting themselves usefully engaged when they were in our custody. Those are the ones we want to show appreciation to by organising this programme.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli