12 Inmates Die From Starvation And Malnutrition In Nasarawa Prison, Sources Claim Secret Burials

Twelve inmates at the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS) Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, allegedly died due to malnutrition and poor conditions in September 2024, according to sources who spoke to SaharaReporters. Allegations surfaced that some deceased inmates were secretly buried without notifying their families, raising concerns about facility management practices.

A source linked the fatalities to starvation, inadequate nutrition, and unsanitary conditions, claiming some inmates were left untreated for injuries sustained from alleged beatings by warders. Overcrowding has compounded these issues, as the facility, designed for 340 inmates, holds around 750, with 605 awaiting trial, according to Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

An official alleged that corruption led to diversion of funds meant for inmates’ food, resulting in starvation and hunger-related deaths. Some inmates’ bodies were reportedly rejected by the mortuary due to overcrowding and buried without family consent, a violation of protocol.

The officer in charge of the facility, Alhaji Thomas, denied these claims, stating, “There’s no truth in that.”