By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
The Catholic Archbishop of Jos Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Ishaya Audu has admonished inmates at the Jos Correctional Centre not allow few elements in the Centre make them elongate their term because of indiscipline.
He also urged them to be of good behaviour, saying “being here as an inmate is already miserable, so don’t allow some few people worsen your stay here.
It would be recalled that on 28th November, 2021, the Jos Correctional Centre was attacked by yet to be identified gunmen who reportedly stormed the centre in large numbers with sophisticated weapons, killed 11 people, injured 7, and 252 escaped.
Audu stated this during a Christmas/New year visit of inmates through the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Archdiocese, at the Jos Correctional Centre on Saturday.
He said the recent security breach at the Correctional Centre almost prevented them from coming for the visit as visitors were not allowed.
“But we had to plead with the officials, and that was why we didn’t come during Christmas, instead we decided to come today being new year.
“Please and please, don’t allow few citizens amongst you, who don’t mean well to elongate your stay here.
“Don’t allow them to make life miserable for you here, because being here is already another cross.
“I believe you are looking forward to the day you will leave this place, even the staff taking care of you are looking forward to that day, they are not happy that you are here.
The Bishop who was represented by Rev. Fr. Noel Gotar maintained that, “If those that don’t mean well are planning evil, please don’t hesitate to report them, don’t keep quite, expose them. If you don’t expose them and it happened again like the last ugly incident, the effect will be on all of us.
On the essence of the annual visit, the Bishop said, “The Diocese has a tradition of visiting the inmates and this has been ongoing for over 20 years.
“And we visit them usually at Christmas because is a period of sharing, so as we share with our family members; these people here are not with their biological families, so as a Diocesan family, we have incorporated them in, and that’s why feel we should also share and celebrate with them.
“Not just sharing to celebrate with them, but also provide them with some basic necessities like we have done today; aside from the food and soft drinks we brought, we also brought pomade and sanitary pads.
Responding, Deputy Controller in charge of the Centre, Agada Ojonimi, who was represented by Superintendent of Corrections (Sports) Chohu Avu, appreciated the Jos Archdiocese, JDPC and the Bishop in particular for the kind gesture and show of love to the inmates and the Centre.
In his remarks, the chaplain of the Centre, ASP Tema Cyprian, thanked the the Bishop for the visit and kind gesture.
Cyprian challenged the inmates to be of good conduct so that they would be allowed to have their regular Masses.
He recalled that Masses were suspended as a result of the last security breach at the Correctional Centre, but resumed recently.
