In whats coming as a really dramatic development, Prisoners at Correctional Center in Jos, Plateau State capital, on Friday have staged hardship protest.
DAILY GIST gathered that the inmates staged a protest over plan to reduce their food ration.
According to report, the inmates refused to take orders from the prison wardens and also shunned breakfast.
It was learnt that the officer in charge of feeding gathered the inmates on Friday to inform them of his discussion with the contractor supplying them food over the increase in the price of food items in the market and the plan to reduce their consumption of rice from four times a week to twice per week.
The source from the correctional center stated that the arrangement did not go down well with the inmates, who resorted to violence by throwing stones and other objects at the staff of the center.
However, the custodial officials reportedly used tear gas to force them back to their rooms.
The Comptroller of the Jos Correctional Center, Raphael Ibinuhi, confirmed the protest of the inmates on Friday.
He said, “The problem has to do with the high cost of goods in the market. The contractor in charge of the foods said they are being forced by the price of food items to reduce the size of the plate of foods.
“So, it is the food size that provoked the protest. I don’t think the protest is necessary because the food challenge and the cost of items is a national issues that the federal government is already addressing.
And I want to believe that since it is a national issue, whatever step taken by the federal government to address it will be felt everywhere in the country including the Correctional centers.”
Recall that the rising cost of living in the country had triggered protest in different parts of the country.
On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) mobilised a nationwide protest, which President Bola Tinubu described as unacceptable.
Following the development, the labour union extends ultimatum given to the Nigerian government by seven days.
In a response to the protest, Tinubu said, “It is unacceptable to call for strike in just nine months of an administration,” saying the NLC should wait till the 2027 general elections to contest.
