The Assistant Controller General (ACG) of Corrections, Nigerian Corrections Service, (NCoS), in charge of Kano and Jigawa Commands, Ahmad Abdu Usman, has vehemently refuted trending social media allegations of homosexual acts occurring at the Goron Dutse Correctional Centre in Kano.
Speaking to the journslists at Goron Dutse earlier today, ACG Usman addressed the claims made by an individual identified as an ex-convict. “Today, Sunday, social media was awash with fake, baseless, and unfounded allegations of a homosexual incident in Goron Dutse Correctional Centre made by an acclaimed ex-convict who claimed that he served his jail term in the yard for the period of nine years,” stated ACG Usman.
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Prompted by these online reports, the command’s management team conducted an immediate investigation at the facility. “Our investigation revealed to us that the man did not serve in Goron Dutse but Kurmawa Central Corrections,” ACG Usman clarified. “Our records found that he served only four months, not nine years as he claimed.”
Further discrediting the individual’s narrative, ACG Usman revealed, “It was also found that after he was released from prison, the Kano State Government secured marriage for him, and after the marriage, he packed all his wife’s belongings and ran away.”
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He firmly asserted, “I tell you, between me and my God, all his narrations were concocted and full of lies.”
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The gravity of the allegations spurred several stakeholders to visit the Goron Dutse facility today to ascertain the truth. These included a member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Gwale, the Kano State Government Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, and the National Human Rights Commission, alongside numerous family members and friends of inmates.
ACG Usman highlighted the discrepancies between the ex-convict’s claims and the reality on the ground. “They officials got access to the cell, the cell accommodates only 104, but the man stated that the cell contained about 2000 inmates; this is so unfortunate.” He also dismissed the “lie that about 200 inmates are suffering from anus diseases with maggots coming out from their anus because of homosexuality, preventing them from sitting.” ACG Usman noted that officials from the National Human Rights Commission and journalists interviewed inmates, urging them to be truthful.
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Addressing the issue of inmate welfare, ACG Usman stated, “The inmates have no issues with feeding. The Federal Government has increased the feeding allowance. Whoever is interested can come and ascertain our claim.”
In conclusion, ACG Usman reiterated the command’s findings. “All his narrations were a screenplay. He has never been to Goron Dutse but Kurmawa and stayed for only four months.” He described the allegations as a “calculated attempt to tarnish the image of our service, not minding that the inmates have parents, family, and friends.”
He further emphasized the security measures in place, stating, “Whoever has been to correctional facilities in Kano now and accordingly knows how our systems work knows his narrations would not be true, given that the corrections were full of lights everywhere, and all movement of inmates is under our guards.”
Speaking further, the Controller of Corrections, Kano, Ado Inuwa on behalf of the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, and the Assistant Controller General in charge, of Kano and Jigawa commands, Ahmad Abdu Usman, Inuwa expressed serious concern and worry over the allegations,
“Our worry is that those without knowledge of the Correction Act may not understand how the service works,” stated Inuwa.
He urged the public to disregard the allegations made by the ex-convict.
Inuwa firmly asserted, “Our mandate is to rehabilitate the inmates, and we have full control of our services.” He further clarified that the individual who made the allegations “has never been to Goron Dutse prison; he served only in Kurmawa, not Goron Dutse.”
The Controller of Corrections concluded by stating that the ex-convict “will be arrested to show us how this thing is happening.”
Deputy Controller Muhammad Umar, the Chief Medical Officer for Kano Corrections, stated unequivocally that there is “no record of anal suppression in all the corrections under his supervision.”
Speaking separately, a leader of inmates known as “Sarkin Gida” and an inmate leader from cell number 5, identified as Emmanuel N. (not his real name), have debunked claims of food shortages and the forced conversion of Muslim inmates to Christianity, which they attribute to the same source as the anal suppression allegations.
The inmate leaders addressed the sensitive issue of sodomy directly. “Sodomy is a serious offense in the Prison yard, so no inmate will attempt to do it,” stated one of the leaders.
They further emphasized the security measures in place, noting that “there are guards in each cell.”
Both leaders called for action against the individual who made the allegations. “We urge security to arrest the man, investigate, and arraign him,” they stated.
Addressing their families and the wider public, the inmate leaders urged them to dismiss the claims of widespread anal suppression. “We call our parents, family, and friends to disregard the allegations that over 200 inmates have anal suppression due to sodomy. It’s not possible, honestly,”
Shehu Adamu’s narration of alleged sodomy at Goron Dutse Corrections sparked public outcry, prompting calls for relevant stakeholders and concerned authorities to conduct a discreet investigation and reveal their findings to the public. The weighty nature of the allegation has already set tongues wagging.
