“This is a red zone, dangerous zone. Whoever attempt to breach the facility is already dead. He must not live to tell the story. Any effort to breach our facility is not acceptable. Don’t shoot to injure but shoot to kill for any reason.”
Nigeria’s minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has ordered officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to shoot dead anyone seen attempting to attack prison facilities across the country.
According to media reports, Aregbesola gave the directive while addressing senior officers at the NCoS Agodi custody center during an official inspection visit to the facility, on Monday.
The minister, the officers must make it impossible for any attacker to penetrate their premises, saying that such a development must remain an attempt.
He said attacks on the custodial centres were not acceptable and must stop, adding that any attempt must henceforth be resisted with brutal force.
Aregbesola said: “The most important thing is the security impregnability of this facility.
“This is a red zone, dangerous zone. Whoever attempt to breach the facility is already dead. He must not live to tell the story.
“Any effort to breach our facility is not acceptable. Don’t shoot to injure but shoot to kill for any reason.
“This is a total embodiment of the state to guarantee the security of the people.”
He assured the officers that government would do its best in ensuring that their welfare was made a top priority as a way of ensuring effective service delivery.
“We will do our best on your welfare to ensure effective service.
“I must commend your work for not recording any case of COVID-19 in your facility.
“You must be effective in preventing the penetration of this facility.
“You must have the capacity to repel viciously any attempt to attack or invade this facility and an attempt must remain an attempt.”
Based on the ongoing facility tour, the Minister has ordered the demolition of shops and business centres within and around the prison facility.
He is expected to also tour the newly built medium facility at Olomi-Olunde area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
