The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has reported a rising mental health crisis in its prisons, with 8,246 inmates nationwide suffering from different types of mental illnesses.
The disclosure was made during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, and Other Inhumane Treatment by the NCoS, held in Abuja.
Addressing the panel, the Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, Dr. Glory Essien, painted a grim picture of the psychological toll incarceration takes on inmates.
According to Essien, the service employs a network of trained inmate-leaders who work closely with correctional staff to identify prisoners exhibiting signs of psychological distress, ensuring they receive necessary intervention.
She stressed the urgent need for comprehensive mental health strategies within the correctional system to address the growing number of cases.
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