In the cell block reserved for nursing
mothers and pregnant inmates at the
Kirikiri Female Prison, Lagos, toddlers
clung to their mothers’ chests. They
observed newsmen, when they visited
last week Saturday, with a bemused
expression on their young face.
They are in prison because their
mothers are inmates. Apparently, they
weren’t aware of a better life out there.
They probably thought it was normal to
be confined only to the four walls of the
prison. No friends, no birthday parties,
no relationship at all with other children
outside the prison walls. They are
victims of circumstances and will remain
so until they are 18 months old.
These children – nine of them – were
born within the walls of the prison. They
live a regimented life; one brought
about by the fact that in prison, rules are
meant to be obeyed. When to sleep,
when to eat, when to wake up, when to
switch off the light and when to put it
on are all regulated by prison authorities
and this is the life these children have
been born into.
The children are all below 18 months, so
they could not interact verbally with our
correspondent during the visit, which
was aimed at shedding light on their
lives.
“When the children are a year and half
old (18 months), the mothers have to let
them go. That is the regulation. Families
of the inmates take the children away
and take care of them till the mother
gets out,” spokesperson of the Nigerian
Prisons Service in Lagos, Mr. Biyi Jeje,
had explained to Saturday PUNCH.
When the gate to the main yard of the
prison swung open on the day our
correspondent visited, dozens of
inmates were seen doing their laundry
on the grassy open ground.
Chattering while some were laughing,
the inmates (the prison officials forbade
them being called prisoners) were
cheerful. An official of the prison told
Saturday PUNCH why.
“They have the opportunity of doing
their laundry once in a week. It is like a
social time for them. They are able to
wash their clothes and beddings and
interact more,” the officials said.
A prayer and counseling session was
ongoing in another part of the prison. A
dozen inmates in white prison-style
gown clapped and sang in a small hall,
thanking God for life and good health.
Our correspondent was ushered into
the cells of the nursing mothers.
A couple of them shared a small cell with
bunk beds and the others shared a
bigger one.
Twenty five-year-old Shade (not real
name) had her five-month-old baby boy
in her arms when our correspondent
entered the cell she shared with five
other nursing mothers. Prison officials
were also in tow.
It was not eating time, so newsmen
could not observe how the children
were fed.
“You can ask them any question so far
as it has nothing to do with why they
are here and you protect their identities.
We don’t want trouble from their
lawyers,” an official said.

Ok

D children 4 dia minds nw will b singing 'shay na lyk dis we go dey dey' pity dem sha

children in kirikiri? Sumtin no follow....abeg make una hep me read d post