CHINEDU WOSU, YENAGOA
Worried by the state of Bayelsa State Prisons Complex at Okaka, State Controller of Prisons, Chiabua Churks Victory Uche, has said that the Okaka Medium Security Prison is over populated with inmates.
Victory Uche stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital while briefing journalists on the state of the Prison system in the state.
Uche equally called on the Governor Seriake Dickson led administration to increase the capacity of the Okaka Prison, noting that the medium security prison currently accommodates a total of 588 inmates as against the original Three Hundred 300 inmates earmark for it.
Chiabua Uche while applauding the development drive of the Bayelsa state Government said that contrary to the old fashion of Prison service which was more of punishment, that as part of prison reform inmates could now get formal and vocational training in the course of serving their jail terms.
The Prison boss lamented the lack of funds for reformed offenders to get tools needed to kick start their trade while serving the prison terms.
He however advised government and the society against stigmatization of reformed criminals, saying that continued stigmatization would rather create problems for changed criminals as they may later go back to their old ways as a result of the ill treatment received from the society.
