Police Raid Another Centre in Kaduna, Rescue 147 Inmates

Police Raid Another Centre in Kaduna, Rescue 147 Inmates

By John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command on Saturday raided another rehabilitation centre in Rigasa community, a suburb of the metropolis where 147 inmates were rescued.

Lawal Yusuf Muduru, proprietor of the centre, popularly known as “Malam Niga’s Rehabilitation and Skill Acquisition Centre” was also arrested by the police .

Yakubu Sabo, spokesman of the Kaduna state police command, said the action was taken following an unscheduled visit by Governor Nasir el-Rufai to the centre, located at Kwanar Gurguwa in Rigasa on Saturday.

He said the inmates who were shackled with chains at the centre were evacuated and taken to the Hajj Camp in Mando where they were given temporary shelter.

This is coming about three weeks after over 300 children and adults were rescued in a similar rehabilitation centre in the Rigasa area, where many of them were chained and dehumanised.

Kaduna state Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hafsat Baba, who visited the Hajj Camp to see the victims said a total of 147 inmates, including 22 females were evacuated from the centre.
She said four of the victims are foreigners from Niger Republic and Cameroon.

“We also have under age among the inmates and those who are mentally not stable. We have contacted a psychiatric doctor who will come to examine them,” she said, adding that efforts were being made to identify their relations.
The inmates were said to be drug addicts who were taken to the centre for rehabilitation as well as learn some skills.

He said some of the inmates alleged that they were sexually abused by other inmates at the centre.
Sabo said the proprietor of the centre was being questioned by the police.

Sabo in a statement issued in the evening on Saturday said:
“Today Saturday 19th October, 2019 at about 0800hrs, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State His Excellency Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai led Police Operatives of the Command to the NIGAS Rehabilitation and Skills Acquisition Centre located at Rigasa Kaduna for an On-the-Spot Assessment where it was discovered that about one hundred and forty seven (147) inmates both male and female were found mostly in shackles (chained).

“During the raid, some of the inmates made certain allegations of maltreatment including sexual molestation particularly by the female inmates against some male inmates.

“ Following this discovery, the Governor directed that, all the inmates be evacuated to Hajj Camp located at Mando Kaduna for proper profiling and safe custody.

“ Similarly, the Police have arrested one Dr Lawal Yusuf Muduru a.k.a Malam Niga, the owner of the Centre to investigate him on the said allegations.

“He is currently helping investigation at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) of the Command.

“The Command is also investigating the authenticity and validity of the registration document the suspect claimed to possess.

“The Commissioner of Police CP Ali AJI Janga psc, has reiterated his commitment to fight all forms of crime and criminality in the state without fear or favour. He appeals to the general public to continue to support the Command in the current battle against criminality”.

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