NCoS debunks claims of juvenile protesters held in adult custodial facilities

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has refuted recent reports suggesting that minors arrested during the August 2024 “End Bad Governance” protests were detained in adult custodial facilities in Abuja.

A statement issued on Saturday by the NCoS Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, clarified that none of the juvenile suspects were admitted to any adult correctional centers, as some reports have claimed.

Addressing the allegations, Abubakar noted that the Correctional Service Act of 2019 mandates controllers and facility superintendents to reject juvenile detainees in adult centers and enforce inmate intake limits when facilities reach capacity. “There is no truth to the reports circulating in some media outlets,” Abubakar emphasized. “The Nigerian Correctional Service operates based on best correctional practices and global standards, especially regarding the treatment of juvenile offenders.”

He further reassured the public of NCoS’s commitment to upholding human rights and adhering to the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Juvenile Offenders.

The NCoS has urged the public to disregard the misinformation, emphasizing that its policies and operations reflect respect for human rights and the specific needs of juveniles in the justice system.