Mulls privatisation of Prisons

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA – Despite the ferocious wave of attacks on indigenous communities by rampaging herdsmen in some parts of the country, the Federal Government has ruled out the possibility of deploying military option to quell such violent activities.

It said since the police have not been overwhelmed by the attackers, military option is not on the table.

Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) stated this on a Sunday midnight television programme “Question Time” on Channels TV.

“We must protect the country which is the main function of the police. The Civil Defence are there to complement them too.

“This is a non-military issue that borders on law and order. It is not every security issue that you call in the military. It is the responsibility of the police to maintain peace. I believe that if we put the police in proper position in terms of discharging its functions, then there would be no need for military option. The police are equal to the task. If you have to deploy the army, then you are going above board (sic). In any case, I do not even have the power to deploy the military for anything. It is only when the situation gets out of hand that you invite the military”, he said.

According to the Global Terrorism Index 2015 report, “Fulani militants” killed 1,229 people in 2014 — up from 63 in 2013 — making them the “fourth most deadly terrorist group” globally.

Privatization of Prisons, an option

Dambazau also hinted the possibility of privatizing Nigerian Prisons, saying the only challenge with the proposal is that most prison inmates are not serving their sentences but awaiting trial.

“Privatization is an option. How we go about doing that is another thing. Outside the country, for instance in the United Kingdom UK, they rely on ‘Prisons Labour’ to do that and it is from prisons labour they do that to recoup their investment.

“Here, 70 per cent of our inmates are awaiting trial and by international law, you cannot engage inmates who are awaiting trial in such labour, but it is still something that we can sit down with those who are interested”, he said.

‘FG not spending N14, 000 prisoners’

The minister however dismissed reports that government was spending N14, 000 to feed each prisoner on a daily basis, but said Nigeria currently spends about N10.6 billion feeding over 65, 000 prisoners yearly.

“It is not sustainable given that we have about 65, 000 to 70,000 prisoners. If you have 65, 000 prisoners, the feeding that was approved by former President Jonathan, you raised the feeding to N450 per day including gas; if you multiply it by 65, 000 prisoners in 365 days, you get roughly N10.6 billion. That was what we met and there was no budgetary provision for that. This was why we said there was need to look into prisons farms so that prisons can feed themselves”, he stated.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/%e2%80%8efg-rules-out-military-action-against-rampaging-herdsmen/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

But no problem using military action on the Niger Delta? It's obvious this country is going to divide sooner than we think. If the FG is not willing to use military action even with the glaring evidence of the atrocities committed by these herdsmen, then community should be given the permission to bear firearms.

Brodas don't kill Brodas.
So how do u expect PMB to send military to them

How will they when the chief controller of the fulanis herdsmen is the president.

Buhari is a legal terrorist - he was quick to deploy millitary men to SS & SE but unperturbed about fulanis herdsmen killing, your actions will surely comes back to you.

The journey you made today shall be your last.

They are doing what they are being told to do by their master which is to maim and kill

So why did the FG deploy the military agaisnt protesters in the east?

Between protesters and herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles which is a bigger threat to the lives and properties of Nigerians?


Do you see the double standard in this country? The military has killed more unarmed Igbo youths than fulani herdsmen that go about raping, killing and destroying.

Lalasticlala, please this deserves front page.

Omenika:
So why did the FG deploy the military agaisnt protesters in the east?

Between protesters and herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles which is a bigger threat to the lives and properties of Nigerians?


Do you see the double standard in this country? The military has killed more unarmed Igbo youths than fulani herdsmen that go about raping, killing and destroying.

You are the real omenka, that other one na fake

Beremx, obailala, omenka/fiizznation, modath, fulanimafia/Quotasystem, passingshot, pensniper.

Double standards!!

pure hypocrisy, can u just imagine the kind of country we are in?

nepotism, tribalism hypocrisy. yet dey want us to remain with their so call one Nigeria.. never

The government is only concern with the oil and not its citizens.

I'm waiting for the defenders of this administration to come do their job... Yes, No Military action because they are ur fellow northerner until these people bulldoze their demonic violent selves deeper into the south where their violent activities will be difficult to contain and that's when it will dawn on the govt that their activities could have been curtailed.

The cattle and herdsmen politics. Naija!

I was never a fan of NK with his stern talks on Radio Biafra but recent happenings, official statementS and the body language of this administration keeps proving the guy right.

No need for military action? My God, good heavens !

Military are not meant for fulaniherdsmen who had killed more people than Niger Delta Avengers but the reverse is the case.
The fulaniherdsmen don't require military but the peacefull biafra protesters need military.
The cattle rustral of fulani herdsmen cattles need military but the terrorists killers fulani herdsmen doesn't need the military
Hypocrisy and sentiment is the greatest undoing of northerners and their leaders.

Nigeria has never been f****d up like we have now.

Police to handle murderous Ak47 wielding Fulani terrorists whilst armed soldiers are used to kill unarmed protesters.

SMH for this incompetent, divisive and insincere govt.

There are three threads on this topic.
The other two have been closed.
The first is full of approval of govt action.
Guess who.
If your nation has been invaded by libyans, is it the job of the police to fight them? Or is mr man finally acknowledging that it's been the herdsmen all along?

Those maggots called herdsmen are not as tough as they seem.
I only believe the Federal government is not committed enough to keeping them quiet

The partiality from the military in this country at Buhari's regime might seriously lead to another civil war.

Was in my house watching secretly how the innocent IPOB protesters were shot and also bundled in the military hilux whether dead or alive, both the ones killed inside a catholic church. How can you drive into a mosque to massacre innocent Muslims, it can never happen.

Yet this same military says they have no reason to interfer with the brutal killings of the armed president brothers

I just no wan call this country zoo

osabuohein:
But no problem using military action on the Niger Delta? It's obvious this country is going to divide sooner than we think. If the FG is not willing to use military action even with the glaring evidence of the atrocities committed by these herdsmen, then community should be given the permission to bear firearms.

Did you notice the tweet of the presidency towards the woman who was beheaded over an issue of "Blasphemy"?

A Leopard never changes its spots.

We are in for trouble in this country.

Hmm if I talk

No military action against a group rated 4th deadliest in the world??

But full military onslaught on Biafrans, Niger Deltans and other minority groups clamouring for justice and equality..

Indeed, all men are not born equal..

Na dem sabi! I no go talk wetin dey my mind
Ekenekwa m unu!

I talk am... even b4 opening I knew it would be from vanguard. see as dem twist am. if you read the headline e go be like say FG won't do anything about it...

You see ehn, that thing wey this administration dey find, them go see am sooner than they expected.

G

But you can take Military action against other Non Hausa/Fulani groups.
This present administration is the most tribalistic of them all. Its soo not fair at all

In a state in North-Central Nigeria, the Fulanis have made themselves devils. They rob and kidnap road users at will, and later demand for huge ransoms, and nothing is being done about it.

They move with sophisticated weapons; how they acquire such, I don't know.

In fact, they killed the head of the vigilante group in one of the communities. The people there are already scared. I am also scared what happened in Agatu might happen there, too.

The police can't help. And now, the FG is saying this? This is just wickedness, and God will punish anybody that's against military action on these cruel baastards.