Group set Fire On Kuje Prison in Abuja

The popular Kuje Prison in the federal Capital Territory has seen Fire engulfing several buildings inside the popular prison in Abuja.

Several reports has it that the fire reportedly started several hours ago and a group calling itself the Prisoners Against Injustice in Nigeria (PAIN) has claimed responsibility for the fire.

The group Prisoners Against Injustice in Nigeria made the claim in a handwritten statement posted on the prison notice board before it was removed by the prison authorities as the group claimed the attack was meant to draw the attention of the world to the pathetic state of prisons and corruption within the prison services.

The group stated that in spite of the huge annual budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Prison Service, inmates under the Prison service must buy medicines through prison staff and seek funds to treat serious conditions in healthcare facilities outside the yard. Those who are unable to afford health services are left to their fate, with many dying.

According to reports no life was howver lost in the fire but the affected buildings are the moribund Clinic block, Custody 2, which is the congested home to 153 Awaiting Trial Inmates, Convicts block (custody 3) where 322 inmates are crammed into, and Custody 4, another Awaiting Trial block where additional 306 inmates are packed in like sardines.