CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study

People perish for lack of knowledge and information. In a country like Nigeria,

many of her citizens are illiterates and those who manage to have the basic normal

education do not or easily have access to information regarding their day-to-day

activities. The media’s provision is not the best for the neo-literates. Hence, criminal

behaviours and delinquency are common occurrences in Nigeria and other parts of the

world. In recent time armed robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, fraud, traffic offence;

rape, murder and theft have become more serious to tackle as they have manifested with

new methods and techniques Omisakin (1998). According to Ahire (1990), reformation

refers to measures calculated to import moral improvement in a person’ s character so

that he will be less inclined to re-offend in the future. Convicted criminals are sentenced

to correctional center for purpose of rehabilitation and reformation. In most cases, the

providers of rehabilitation services are either ill equipped to give wholesome services that

can affect inmate’s lives positively. Reformation and rehabilitation services are notable

for their Pivotal custodial centre role in changing lives of the inmates. Unfortunately

these are either not there or grossly inadequate. Change is possible for everyone, even

inmates can change for the better and becoming productive citizens however, changing

for the better and becoming productive citizens need a little sacrifice from inmates and a

great help from government and concerned agencies. For any meaningful rehabilitation to

take place in the correctional center, Rehabilitation services must be improved upon,

adequate provisions made and these should be accessible to the inmates.

1
 Although Reformation and Rehabilitation Services for inmates are widely

available around the world. Each of these services targets specific groups of peop1e with

specific needs for reform. A rehabilitation service provides education prison about

various aspects of life. These are useful for getting inmates prepared for a better life

outside the prison system. The place of rehabilitation services in the reformation of

inmates have continued to be on the front burner of public discourse in recent time

(Tanimu 2010). Leading this discourse are professionals like adult educators, counselor,

social workers, psychologists and medical doctors. These professionals seem to be at a

consensus that rehabilitation programmes or services in correctional center will help

inmates acquire the much needed social skills, vocational training, attitudinal and

behavioural changes and education is more useful to themselves and the society upon

release.

To achieve the above, Rehabilitation services in Nigerian correctional center have

been defined as services provided for inmates in order to restore them to the fullest

physical, mental, psychological, social, vocational and economic usefulness which they

are capable (Federal Government of Nigeria, 1989). According to the Nigerian

correctional service manual (2011), the realization of one of the major objectives of the

correctional Service, the reformation and rehabilitation of convicts to be done through a

complicated set of mechanism consisting among others, conscientization, group work ,

case work session, recreational activities, religious services and adult and remedial

education programmes, educational development project skills acquisition programme,

mid-range industrial production, agricultural services and after care services programme.

The prison services provider should not only identify the causes of the inmates’ anti-

social behavior but also endeavor to set them on the road to reform through induced self-

2
 rediscovery and eventually change for the better. According to Federal Government of

Nigeria (1989), some of the specific objectives of rehabilitation services in Nigeria

correctional center are to:

i.Ensure effective management of crisis situation of the inmates.

ii.Ensure an appropriate training for the inmates in order to reduce dependency.

iii.Promote the provision of adequate and accessible recreational and sporting facilities

for the inmates.

In order to accomplish these goals, inmates are encouraged to participate in

rehabilitation programmes made available to them while in correctional center. This is

crucial or inmates especially because many of them entered the correctional center

more socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged. The key to success in a

free society for many of these socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged

inmates is Rehabilitation. There is no better way to help inmates re-enter the larger

society successfully and break the in-and-out of jail cycle than provide them with

skill that they need to succeed in the outside world. It is disheartening to see that a

crucial aspect of identifying inmates’ needs is grossly neglected in Nigeria. This is the

crux of the matter. For rehabilitation services to help inmates to envelop social and

vocational skills, keep them meaningfully busy, change their attitudes and behavior so

that they will have better understanding of themselves and the society, their needs

must be addressed so as to enable them get employment and advance more

educationally after serving their terms. From the foregoing, the study attempts to

investigate into the challenges and prospects of reformation and rehabilitation of

3
 inmates in Nigeria with particular focus on Makurdi Maximum Security Custodian

Center.

According to Rosenya Faith, correctional center are States and Federal

Institutions used to incarcerate felons who are serving a sentence of more than one

year. According to Major General A.B Dambazau correctional center is the third leg

in the triangular relationship of the criminal justice system. In the administration of

justice the police begin the process by making arrest; the court both remands the

accused persons or convicts are sent to correctional center. correctional center is the

final stage of the criminal justice process. This means that the police are the first leg,

the court is the second leg and the correctional service is the third leg in that

triangular relationship. It is a correctional institution put in place by the Government

to checkmate the activities of people who are legally interned by the court of

competent jurisdiction.

According to the correctional service lecture manual “A correctional center is

a place delimited and declared as such by law for safe custody of persons convicted

or accused of violating the criminal law of the state”. It is used for holding in custody

persons who are awaiting their trials (ATPs).The ATPs here means the Awaiting Trial

Persons. correctional service system in Nigeria as an institution was established

during the colonial rule. It is one of the components of Criminal Justice System

saddled with the responsibility of ensuring safe custody of persons committed to its

facilities and the corrections (reformation). Prison is a correctional institution put in

place by government to checkmate the activities of people who are legally interned by

the court of competent jurisdiction. Almost all the communities in pre-colonial

Nigeria and of course Africa knew little or nothing about correctional service system.

4
 However, early European incursions into the territories of the communities that make

up the modern Nigeria have established facilities having some of the features of the

correctional service system today. But then, the legal history of correctional service in

Nigeria started with colonial era.

According to Egu (1990), the evolution of Nigeria correctional service can be

divided into the pre-colonial and early colonial periods. Imprisonment as a means of

punishing offenders was not new to many pre-colonial communities in Africa. In

Nigeria, for instance, different communities had their own legitimate methods of

dealing with deviant members of the societies. The Ogboni rose among the Yorubas,

the Ewedas among the Edos or Benins, served as correctional center. In northern part

of the country, the Fulanis, had similar institutions while among the Tivs and Igbos,

there were indications of functional equivalent to correctional center. The Lagos Blue

Books shows the existence of a place of confinement at Faji where culprits were

imprisoned and employed mainly at street cleaning. Between 1873 and 1990, this

place of confinement was referred to as a goal and its staff called “Gang Drivers”

because of the nature of the job in which the inmates were employed to do.

Upon assumption of responsibility by the British Government for the

administration of Lagos in 1861, the evolution of an organized correctional service

system began in order to administer justice. In 1862, Freeman was commissioned to

constitute and appoint Judges and other necessary officers. The operation of a court

and appointment of at least a Judge to man such a court were prerequisites for the

establishment of a correctional center. Consequently, by 1872, Broad street

correctional center had been opened to accommodate 300 inmates but it was not until

1876 that the correctional center ordinance came into force. The system was

5
 moderated along that of the British. As British administration expanded, so also more

correctional centers were built as a necessary complement.

By 1901, correctional centers had been established in old Calabar, Asaba,

Benin City, Sapele and Degema. In 1914, Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern

and Southern protectorates into the present day Nigeria. Following the amalgamation,

the correctional center ordinance of 1916, and correctional service regulations of

1917 were made as a positive step with the aim of establishing the much needed

uniform standard of correctional administration. Today, correctional services chapter

has three hundred and sixty-six of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

as amended in (1999) commonly called (CAPS 366) and Standing Order (SO) as laws

establishing and regulating its activities in Nigeria.

However, one of the broad aims of the correctional center is reformation and

rehabilitation of inmates which this research work intends to investigate by looking

into the challenges and prospect of reformation and rehabilitation of inmates of

Maximum Security Custodial Center, Makurdi which is a part or a formation of the

entire correctional service system in Nigeria. Section 58 of the standard Minimum

rule for the treatment of offenders states that imprisonment can perform its purpose of

protecting society against crime and thus can be justified only as noted by Yechol

(2006).“The period of imprisonment is used to ensure as far as possible, that upon his

eventual discharge back to the society, the offender is not only willing but able to live

a law abiding and self-supporting life”.Makurdi Maximum Security Custodial Center

correctional center as a correctional institution engages in a variety of activities to

reform and rehabilitate its wards, the most important of which are vocational training,

education, social welfare services, religious programmes, recreational activities,

6
 guidance and counseling services and training of inmates in modern agricultural

farming techniques and livestock production.

1.2 Statement of Research Problems

In spite of the declared objectives of reformation and rehabilitation, the Nigeria

correctional center is marred with numerous problems. According to Alemika (1983), The

Nigerian correctional service system is a colonial creation and remains a monument to

colonial experiences in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria of which Makurdi

correctional center is not an exception. The research work is meant to look into the aspect

of the analysis of the activities, challenges and prospects of inmates of Makurdi

Maximum Security Custodial Center as a correctional institution. There is every need to

carry out the analysis of its activities as a correctional institution to bring to the fore if the

aim of establishing this agency of government is being achieved or not. Ideally,

Maximum-security Custodial center Makurdi as a reformatory home ought to confine

and carry out activities which are correctional in nature and train offenders to bring them

back to rectitude so as to serve as deterrence to other members of the society.

1.3 Research Objectives

The study is aimed at examining the impacts of reformation and rehabilitation

of inmates in Makurdi maximum security custodial center. The specific objectives of

this study include:

i.To examine the extent to which the Makurdi maximum security custodial center has

rehabilitated and reformed its inmates between 1992-2021.

ii.To ascertain the types of reformation and rehabilitation services or programmes inmates

prefer.
7
 iii.To ascertain the condition of the inmates so far rehabilitated and reformed by Makurdi

maximum security custodial center.

iv.To determine the main constraints bedeviling the Makurdi maximum security custodial

center from carrying out its statutory functions.

v.To find out possible solutions to the challenges.

1.4 Research questions

The study is expected to provide answers to the following questions:

i.What is the status of reformation and rehabilitation of inmates in Makurdi maximum

security custodial center between 1992 -2021.

ii.What type of Reformation and rehabilitation service or programmes do inmates prefer

in Markudi maximum security custodial center?

iii.What are the strategies put in place by the government on reformation and

rehabilitation of prisons and inmates?

iv.What are the constraints experienced by inmates in Makurdi maximum security

custodial center?

v.What can be done to make noble correctional objectives of rehabilitation in Makurdi

maximum security custodial center more realizable?

1.5 Significance of the Study.

The study intends to help in educating the individual and the entire public on the

challenges inmates are faced with in the correctional center, so that people could be

encouraged to participate in creative activities because it will help reduce the number of
8
 inmates or offenders in the society and thereby discouraging individuals from

unproductive characters, the study will also help to bridge the between what the

government can provide for the masses and the felt needs of people which can be

provided by the people themselves. At the end of the research, the general public would

gain a lot of knowledge on the importance of reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.

The study will also be significant to future researchers who would want to conduct a

similar research. It will also enable government to discover challenges faced by inmates

and provide recommendations to the challenges identified.

1.6 Scope of the Study

It is a known fact that crime is not confined to any particular area but all over

Nigeria. However, this study focuses its attention on the challenges and prospects of

reformation and rehabilitation of inmates with reference to Makurdi maximum security

custodial center in Benue state.

Hence, the type of reformation and rehabilitation service and programmes, roles

and challenges would be looked into with particular emphasis on Makurdi maximum

security custodial center.

1.7Research methodology

This unit deals with the methods adopted in conducting the research so as to

accomplish the objectives of the study earlier stated in chapter one. Issues discussed include:

the research method, the research design, population of the study, the study area, sources of

data collection, instrument of data collection, as well as techniques for data analysis.

1.7.1Research Design

9
 To focus on the experiences of people as well as stressing uniqueness of the individual,

the researcher will use the qualitative and quantitative method as “a form of social enquiry that

focuses on the way people interpret and make sense of their experience and the world in which

they live.

In conducting this research, survey method as a form of research design would be

adopted; representing samples of small or large population is studied to determine the

character of the whole population, which may be of interest to the research. Survey

method was chosen to find out the problems and prospect of the Nigeria inmates

particularly the Makurdi maximum security custodial center in Benue State. This method

was considered relevant because it gives the researcher access to gain crucial and salient

information from large number of people.

1.7.2 Population of the Study

The population of the study as at september, 2021 are 1,339 males, and 36

females of which Awaiting Trial Inmates are 1,076, sentenced inmates 229 bringing to

1,375 inmates in total.

Furthermore, 3,250 inmates have been released so far from the correctional centers since

its inception from 1992 – 2017 and out of the total of 1,375 inmates, a satisfied sample of

respondents will be randomly chosen and used for the data analysis.

1.7.3 Sample Size and Sampling Technique

The sample size of this research is calculated to determine the sample size from a

given population using the Taro Yamane (1964) with 95% confidence level.

Below is the mathematical illustration for the Taro Yamane method:

10
 n= N
(1+N (e) 2)
Where:
n signifies the sample size
N signifies the population under study

e signifies the margin error (it could be 0.10, 0.05 or 0.01)

n= 1,375
(1+1,375(0.05)2

n= 1,375
(1+ 1,375(0.0025)

n= 1,375
(1,376 × 0.0025)

n= 1,375
3.44

n= 399.70

n= 400
From the result above, the sample size is 400from the total population of 1,375

which might be the lower number of responses from the respondents to maintain a 95%

confident interval.

1.7.4 Data Sources and Instruments of Data Collection

This study involves the use of primary and secondary data. The primary

data will be collected from the respondents; the primary data will be collected through

personal administration of questionnaire by the researcher. In administering the

questionnaire, direct delivery methods will be used, the questionnaire will be administered

and time frame given for the retrieval to avoid high incidence of instrument mortality.

While the secondary sources consisted of unpublished works articles, books, journals,

11
 internets, classified information in the records department of the agency and other sources

relevant to the research topic.

Instruments of data collection

Questionnaire: The researcher will design a questionnaire for the inmates of Makurdi

maximum security custodial centre. The distribution of questionnaire will be by direct

contact and the researcher gives time for retrieval. The questionnaire is to discover the

extent of the perceived challenges in correctional administration in Nigeria correctional

service. Questions designed to enable the correctional inmate answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; give

opinion or select one or more from alternative answers that will be provided.

Interview: The researcher will as well employ the interview method in the collection of

data. This involves informal interviews, which will be held with some staff and inmates.

1.7.5 Data Analysis

Information gathered will be presented in simple percentages, tables and

frequencies count and was analyzed, inspecting, cleaning transforming and modeling data

with the goal of high lighting useful information, suggesting conclusion and supporting

decision making. After collection of data, the next which depends on the mode of analyze

the researcher adopts. The information collected with the questionnaire was interpreted to

give a better perspective of the information gotten from both the staff and inmates of

Makurdi maximum-security custodial the respondents.

1.7.6 Limitation to the Methodology

Considering the time constraints, distance and the, the researcher has decided to

limit the project work to Nigerian maximum security custodial centre Makurdi, Benue

12
 State, as the case study where interviews will be conducted and questionnaires will be

distributed to seek the opinions of the inmates as well as the staff.

This research work has some limitations worth mentioning. The major limitations

are that of limited factors, uneasy access to classified information and data from the

records department and research materials/journals. The duration of time given to the

researcher to carry out the research was short and the researcher has some other academic

commitments to pursue, the time constraint affected the scope of work.

There was also lack of sufficient funds for the researcher to purchase certain

journals, this also make it impossible to cover the whole Organization used as the case

study, hence a few branches will be selected. This research work was also limited to the

information or materials available.

1.7.7 Definition of Key Concepts

Nigeria Correctional Service: Is an organization or an institution of government whose

role is designed for the management of correction and taking safe custody of persons

accused or convicted of violating the criminal laws of the state.

Inmates: They are persons accused or convicted of violating the criminal laws of the

state. There are different classes of inmates. These include convicts, awaiting trial

persons, i.e. untried, detainees, debtor inmates etc.

Prison: According to Opera (1998), “correctional center is a place delimited and declared

as such by the law of the state and created to ensure restraint and custody of individuals

accused or convicted of violating the criminal laws of the state”. It can be described as a

place where offenders are kept as punishment for crime committed. It serves as a place

where persons are kept while awaiting trial.

13
 Correctional Centre is a building in which wrongdoers are kept locked up. It is a place I

delineated and declared as such by the law of the state and created to insure restraint and custody

of individuals accused or convicted of violating the criminals of the state civil inmates as debtor,

inmates of war and state detainees are received and kept. It is a place which people are physically

confined and usually deprived of a range of personal freedom.

Rehabilitation: According to Ahire (2004:8) rehabilitation refers to post- release efforts

made to make it easier for the offender to resettle (or be resettled) in the society. Also

according to the national Development Policy of Nigeria (1989:4) defined rehabilitation

as a process whereby a disabled person is restored to the fullest physical, mental,

psychological, social, vocational and economic usefulness of which the individual is

capable.

Rehabilitation is a significant issue which was encouraged to be carried out on

inmates in order to reduce them from committing more offenses. It addresses among

other states obligations, the welfare reformation and re-orientation of offenders with a

view to re-integrating them into mainstream behavior. Therefore, rehabilitation as a

concept is to restore someone or offender to a normal life by training and therapy after

imprisonment in other to be useful to the society after release

Crime: Durkheim (1893), defined crime within a social context. He saw crime as a social

product, determine by social conditions, capable of being controlled only in social terms.

Selling (1938), argued that “crime is a violation of culture norms, which is something

beyond mere violation of law per section. He maintains that mere violation of the

criminal law is an artificial criterion of criminality. Crimes are those behaviors that

violate norms encoded in the penal code or criminal laws.

14
 Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs): According to correctional center manual Awaiting Trial

Persons are those kept in correctional center while awaiting final determination of their

cases. They are divided into awaiting trial male (ATM) and awaiting trial female (ATF).

Convict: prison manual 2008 says “a convict is a person convicted for violating the

criminal laws of the state and who is serving his/her jail term in the correctional center”

Reformation: Criminals who have committed crime are most likely to be reformed in

other to be less inclined to committing crime and also to make them a useful member of

the society. Therefore, reformation here refers to justification punishment put in place

seek change in a convicted offender so that they will not commit additional offenses in

the future.

15
 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1The meaning of Prison

Throughout history it has been the recognized right of every society to punish crime. Today

nearly the way most societies deal with person(s) who commit serious crime is to confine them

to prison.

In Nigeria today, the prison is seen as the Centre of the entire offender correction and control

system. The prison is therefore an important institution in the Administration of Criminal Justice

System of any country. It is therefore pertinent to understand the full meaning of prison.

According to Martin (1997:33) prison is any place or building delaminated or declared as such

by law of the state and created to endure restraints and custody of individual accused or

convicted of violating the laws of the state. Awa and Yemi (1990:33) see prison as a designated

place for the confinement of offenders and undesirable elements in the society who are either

convicted or unconvinced and awaiting jail.

16
 According to Rosenya Faith “Prisons are state and federal institutions used to incarcerate

convicted felons who are serving a sentence of more than one year”. Throughout the duration of

imprisonment, inmates are involved in required activities and are provided with the opportunity

to participate in optional activities for their physical, mental and spiritual health. According to

Major Gen. Dambazau “Prison is the third leg in the triangular relationship of the criminal

justice”. In the administration of justice, the police begin the process by making arrest; the court

both remands the accused persons or convicts and sent them to prison custody. Prison is the final

stage of the criminal justice process. This means that the police are the first leg, the court is the

second leg and the prison is the third leg in that triangular relationship According to him the

prison is responsible for the custody of the final product in the criminal justice process. He adds

that maintaining custody involves carrying out measures to prevents escapes, such as erecting

high walls or chain-link fence, placing armed guards, constant checks of cells, providing a

system of passes per movements within the prison, constant surveillance.” He said further that

colonial prisons were not designed for reform, but rather prisoners were used mainly for public

works and other jobs for the colonial administration, they served the colonial interests of

ensuring law and order and collecting taxes. The prisons are poorly run and the local prisons

conditions varied from one prison to another in their disorganization, callousness and

exploitation.” The prison served the purpose of punishing those who opposed the British colonial

administration. Danbazau (2000).

According to Sir Mike Emeka Nweze (JP FCAI) (2012) “prison is responsible for

the custody of all those legally sent to it by the court of law.” The process in the criminal

matters end up with the prisons where the courts in their proceedings remand the accused

or the guilty offender sentenced. The prison is therefore the receptacle to the other arms

of criminal justice through the courts. According to him types of prisons include:

17
 a.Divisional Prisons

These are the prisons located in the former divisional headquarters of colonial and

immediate post-colonial administration in Nigeria. They are generally designed for

offenders serving prison term for not more than two (2) years and with a capacity not

more than 150 prisoners. Most of the divisional prisons can now be referred to as medium

security prisons which of course are the type of prison whose activities is being analyzed

in this research work but for the purpose of clarity other types of prisons will be looked

into as well.

b. Provisional Prisons

These are prisons designed to accommodate between 150 and 200 prisoners

serving sentences from two (2) years and above. Many of these provisional prisons have

been upgraded to convict prisons particularly with the creation of more states e.g Owerri,

Benin, Onitsha, Makurdi Prisons etc

c. Convict Prisons

These are the highest categories of prisons in Nigeria. They accommodate all types of

prisoners regardless of their length of sentence, whether short or long term prisoners, including

those serving life sentences. Convict prisons are generally regarded as maximum security prisons

most of them have gallows for the execution of death sentences example Port-Harcourt, Agodi,

Enugu, Kaduna, Kirikiri, Ikoye, Jos, etc.

d. Open Prisons

An open prison is one in which there is a minimal security. It is therefore the direct

opposite of a maximum security prison. As the name implies, it is open and there are no

18
 perimeter walls to restrict the free movement of the prisoners. There is only one open prison and

it is located in kanuri on the outskirt of Kaduna state. In most cases reformed and well behaved

inmates are referred to the open prison. According to Sir M.E. Nweze (JP), apart from the types

of prisons enumerated above, he also gives classes of prisoners which include first offenders,

Recidivists, young offenders, convicts, lifer, detainees, and star prisoners and awaiting trial

persons (ATPs). Opera 1998 defined prison as a place where offenders are kept as a punishment

for crimes committed, it also serves as a place where persons are kept while awaiting trial,

according to him, and being kept in prison is to serve as reformation and not for punishment.

What constitutes sufficient punishment is the confinement, which entails deprivation of many

things such as privacy, movement, and uninterrupted control of personal belongings, sexual

relationships and a host of other life pleasures

According to Opara (1998) in his opinion “prison is a place delimited and declared as

such by the law of the state and created to ensure restraints and custody of individuals accused or

convicted of violating the criminal laws of the state”.

e. Correctional institutions

A correctional institution is a penal institution maintained by the Government and

used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused

persons awaiting trails or convicted persons serving a sentence). It is an institution where

persons are confined for punishment and to protect the public. These correctional

institutions are variously called and used to hold or detain different categories of

offenders depending on their nature of crime committed, the age of persons concerned

(whether juvenile or adult offenders). Examples of these correctional institutions include

detention camp, detention home, jail house pokey, slammer, prison house, reform school,

reformatory etc. they are used either for detention, discipline and training of young or
19
 first offenders or to confine for punishment and or to protect the society and the general

public.

f. Medium Security Prison

According to Opara (1998), Medium security Prison (MSP) is a type of prison which

houses inmates who are considered less dangerous or escape prone than those in maximum

security facilities. In CSS 212, a NOUN study material titled “the Sociology of Punishment and

Correction, page 45 (ii)Medium Security Prison(s) house inmates who are considered less

dangerous. These structures typically have no high outside wall, only a series of fences. Many

medium security inmates are housed in large dormitories rather than cells unlike the maximum

security prison which are designed to hold the most violent, dangerous and aggressive inmates.

Aims of Imprisonment

Criminologists and correctional officers have at one time or the other attempted to

offer justification for an efficacy of imprisonment. A summary of these aims of

imprisonments is accepted throughout the world and this includes:

1.Retribution: Criminologists and prison officials refer to this as retaliation or revenge

against the offender, the aim is to make sure that the offender is made to suffer pain and

discomfort just as the victim. Put differently, retribution means that no criminal will go

unpunished.

2.Incapacitation: This refers to the demobilization of offenders in such a way that they

do not have the liberty or freedom to move about freely and to do whatever pleases them

& further law breaking.

20
 3.Deterrence: this refers to the policies and measures adopted in order to discourage

crime. There are two types of deterrence – individual and general deterrence.

4.Reformation: Here, the offenders are perceived as sick and helpless who therefore

need to be treated or helped in order to recover. Here, the prisons will utilize all the

remedial, educational, moral, spiritual and other programmes to divert or change

offenders from crime into useful pursuits that will make crime unattractive or

condemnable. Reformation is closely tied to the issue of rehabilitation which attempts to

equip and relocate dislocated individuals with the knowledge, skills, mental and material

resources necessary for full participation in the affairs of their society according to Ibiang

(2006) “A prison is a place mapped out by law and alienated from the public use, for the

purpose of costuming legally convicted offenders for incarceration. Such places may

have walls, cells, and gate lodge. He identifies five types of prisons to include convict

prison, satellite prison, Open Prisons, prison’s farms and prison’s Borstal institutions”.

2.2 Concept of Rehabilitation and Reformation

The current global dehumanizing posture vis-à-vis imprisonment could be

claiming to have its antecedent from the united native resolution of 1995 after or1d War

II. The resolution spelt out the standard minimum rules for crime prevention the

treatment of offenders. Subsequently, the prison service in many countries began to strife

from mere punishment to reformation. In Nigeria prison particularly, Mr. R. II. Dollar,

director of Nigeria prison from 1946-1959 introduced reformation strategies. During the

reign of Dolan, he introduced the idea of after care service in the prison. This after care

services meant to take care the prisoners both with serving and after serving period. By

this, the idea of reformation and rehabilitation came to play.

21
 In this area of reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners, the authority practiced

the following methods, of reforming and rehabilitating the inmates. From beginning of a

prisoner’s sentence, consideration will be given to his future and shall be encouraged and

assisted to maintain or establish such relationship within or agencies outside the prison

institution as may promote the best interest his family and his own social administration.

To reform and rehabilitate prisoners, the authority introduced adult education as a means

to eradicate ignorance and illiteracy, vocational skills, to inculcate in prisoner’s habit and

good behavior and positive attitude to work for this to work out, Dolan introduce earning

scheme which gave inmate a token amount of money to fall back on discharge other

programmes include recreational and religious activities for motivation of moral

conscience of the prisoners were vigorously pursued.

In its determined pursuit for reformation and rehabilitation since the Nigerian

prison services increased the number of prisons significantly except that 1L growth in

prison inmates has persistently exceeded the number and capacity of Sons (Ogbole: 2004)

Apart from that, Nigeria prison service also established three staff training choo1s

located at kirikiri, Enugu and Kaduna and a modern staff college in kaduna. Eight prison

farms have also been located in different parts of the country. Currently, there is a strong

drive within the Nigeria prison service to educate and develop its personnel, improve its

operational image and practice and adopt the highest standard of professional excellence.

Another aspect reform of thrust is the attempt to inquire into recesses of the minds of the

convicts through the process of counseling, case-services, religious re-orientation and

other sundry psychological and psychiatric services. The pursuant of this goal has led to

the recruitment and development of over 100 psychologists in the prison service in 2001

alone (Ogbole 2004). Rehabilitation here therefore refers to the bringing of offenders to

22
 normal life; it implies restoring a person(s) to matured usefulness he is capable of

socially, economically and mentally.

2.3 Challenges of Reformation and Rehabilitation

Prison as one of the correctional institution that was established with the aim of

correcting or molding the lives of those involved in criminal activities into a non-criminal

venture, they are established to serve as a reformative and rehabilitative institution in

reducing crime in the society. However, if happenings our contemporary prisons are

anything to go by as shown by some recent studies NLR 1983, Ehonwa 1966), then the

Nigeria prison system is far from achieving these objectives. Rather than reducing crime,

the prison is seen as incubation haven where criminals are trained and sent into the

society to cause havoc. The common features in our prisons are solitary confinement,

denial or reduction of diet, in human treatment through the use of violence on inmate and

denial to social amenities. All these have adverse effects on reformation arid subsequent

reduction in criminality. For instance, solitary confinement may only provide an

opportunity for the idle prisoners to think of the next crime after release. As it is seen in a

popular adage “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. Belatedly, reduction or deprivation

of meal does not serve any positive effect on I rehabilitation. Rather it makes the prisoner

to become alienated and’ hostile to the prison authorities and society in general as it is

also seen in the popular adage “a hungry man is an angry man”. In the same vein ill

treatment through whipping, forced labour and other acts of violence play no positive part

at all in making the prisoner lead a good and useful life at the end of his imprisonment

Rather they are hostile to the society after release, the prisoners are more likely to have

no sympathy in his subsequent interaction as a result of dehumanization in his prison

experience.

23
 The accommodation system is characterized by overcrowding i.e those awaiting

trials, some prisoners are forced to take up certain vocations against their violation, all

these do not provide any breeding ground for moral rejuvenation (Ehonwa 1996) and in

such tendencies can hardly reform someone. This is better seen in Odekunle (1983). “it

has been impossible to train a man for freedom under conditions of captivity and to train

him/her towards responsible living by giving him no responsibility whatsoever.

As the modern sociological thinkers suggest that conventional imprisonment of

the kind that is operation in Nigeria is associated with challenges of imprisonment;

stigmatization and pressurization which collectively impair reformation. Besides Nigeria

prisons lack the necessary physical and human resources to undertake such a task as the

diagnosis of criminal behavior and the prescription and implementation of appropriate

remedies.

Kalu (2002) like many others identified the following as factors militating against

prison reformation and rehabilitation in Nigeria.

i.The congestion of prisons and its attendant consequences.

ii.The decayed infrastructural state of prisons.

iii.Lack of qualified professionals as human resources

The phase one of prison reform programmes initiated by the federal government in

1999 by the Obasanjo administration is a step in the right direction but Okobi (2002) is of the

view that a decay of decides or almost a century cannot be addressed in a short time. And if

nothing is done quickly, too even the gains of the first phase will be swallowed up by

pervasive rot.

24
 Aqua (1993) has argued along similar line that, considering the punitive, humiliation

and deprivation character of imprisonment in Nigeria coupled with the absence of the

minimal conditions for a claim to treatment. The declared policy of reformation is no more

than a public disguise for modernizing while in practice, nothing has changed from the

inherited system that was geared towards punishment, incapacitation and deprivation of

incarcerated offenders.

2.4 Importance of Reformation and Rehabilitation

Building a rehabilitative culture into prison has an important instrumental purpose

for those who are going to be released. It is in everybody’s interest that prisoners return to

community with the attitude and skills that will enable them to stay out of trouble in the

future. The assumption of rehabilitation is that people are not permanently criminal and

that it is possible to restore a criminal to a useful life, I a life in which they contribute to

themselves and to the society at large.

The goal of rehabilitation is to prevent habitual offending also known as criminal

recidivism. Rather than punishing to harm out a criminal, rehabilitation would seek by

means of education or therapy to bring a criminal into a more harmful state of mind or

into an attitude which would be helpful to the society other than be harmful to the society.

2.5 Prospect of Reformation and Rehabilitation

The action taken against law breakers is designed to remove dangerous People

from the community; it deters others from criminal behavior and it gives society an

opportunity to attempt to transform law breakers, into law abiding citizens (Johnson,

1974; 296). The prisons Ire expected to carry out the above functions as decided by the

courts. .

25
 However, in the quest to reform the offender, the various objectives pursued under

this institution have never been achieved in the way so defined. Rather, the institution

(prison) responses end up being about the worst solutions devised to solve the problems

of what to do with criminal. The prisons as we know today, teach crime, lure men to it,

trap men/ women in it as a way of life (Mill, 1973). The prison only further criminalizes

the imprisoned offender. In terms of cost and benefit analysis, imprisonment is costly and

wasteful of resources, especially human social resources (Odekunle, 1983:36). The high

rate of recidivists specia1ly amongst the ex-prisoners attests to the fact that

institutionalization is an in appropriate strategy for offender rehabilitation.

In as much as one acknowledges the prevalence and high rate of criminality our

society, our society, our indiscriminate resort to the prison system is weakening some of

the important basis upon which its efficacy rests, and threatening social values that far

transcend the prevention of crime. While prison seems to hold great promises in

principles, it is disaster in practice as imprisonment in all practical ramifications is

ineffective and inefficient in rehabilitating offenders. Offenders of all sorts should be

spared the hardship, buses and indignities which exist in prison. They should instead be

dealt with more effectively and more humanly in community based programmes.

Community asked activities like vocational training centers should be operated to cater

for the training of unskilled offenders and such vocational training should be voluntary.

Offenders who arc under strict supervision should be made available in other to render

their services in community development projects like construction of feeder roads,

bridges or culverts etc. Some skilled offenders should be given employment in sectors

where their services are needed. Part of their emoluments should be deducted to cater for

the needs of victims of crime or offenders within the environment. By so doing, they will

26
 consciously be made to share part of the responsibility of their misdeeds to society. This

will provide a basis for sober reflection atonement for their criminality

For most of those incarcerated, imprisonment constitutes inappropriate and

dysfunctional socio-legal responses to their rehabilitation needs in particular and safety of

the public in general. For reformation and rehabilitation to take place prison,

individualization of treatment must be given attention. This is in view of the fact that the

same kind of treatment cannot be successfully administered to all prisoners in all

circumstances. For instance, to treat an offender whose criminality arises largely from

economic factors exactly like one whose criminality arises from personality factors will

not be rational and fruitful. Any attempt therefore to reform prisoners and classify

treatment as well as the accurate matching of each type of prisoners with each type of

treatment.

2.6 Activities of Medium Security Prison Makurdi

According to Rosenya Faith, prisons are state and federal institutions used to

incarcerate convicted felons who are serving a sentence of more than one year.

Throughout the duration of imprisonment, inmates are involved in the required activities

and are provided with the opportunity to participate in optional activities for their

physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being. According to her; activities in the

prisons include the following:

a)Sport and Recreation

To assist in decreasing levels of stress and violence within the prison, sports and

recreational activities are available to inmates. Options include basketball, tennis, billiards and

puzzles and games. The activities are designed to promote healthy lifestyles in an effort to

27
decrease medical costs. To encourage positive social skills, the prisons provide team sports while

exercise programs offer a means for inmates to develop a positive self. An oral interview with a

warder (prison officer) revealed that Medium Security Prison, Makurdi carries out their activity

of sport and recreation for her inmates and the options available in Makurdi Prisons include

football, table tennis and volleyball and games such as draft and Ludo games (dice)

b. Work activities

Common daily activities revolve around working within or around the prison.

Duties include working as part of the kitchen staff, working as orderlies or working as

custodians. Due to wall deterioration from moisture, inmates removed portions of the

South Dakota state penitentiary stone walls as work opportunity. Laundry and cleaning

opportunities are available in some prisons to increase the activities available to inmates.

Some prisons train inmates to reduce feeling of hopelessness that can be found in a prison

environment. This is where the service of a psychologist is required. Interaction with an

inmate revealed that in Medium Security Prison, Makurdi, inmates are used as

Kitchener’s who cook for other inmates under the supervision of a cook warder; others

are attached to offices to do cleaning work and the prison environment or compound

under the supervision of a yard master (warder). Other inmates are involved in gang work

(outside the prison yard) like federal secretariat, zonal office and the controller’s quarter.

It was further discovered that even some inmates are involved in farming activities on a

small scales e.g. planting vegetables. Although, it is not all classes of inmates who will be

allowed to work outside the prison yard like the known escapee, recidivist, more than six

months to serve, rapist etc. the aforementioned are classes of prisoners who are not

allowed to be taken out for labour gang by law.

28
c. Education Activities

Prisons offer educational opportunities for inmates to improve themselves and assist

in preparing them for the return to normal society. Programmes are available to assist with

reading, math and language skills. These programmes allow inmates the opportunity to gain

a high school diploma while incarcerated. Additional programmes allow for inmate to

receive course in life skills, including computer literacy, parenting, anger management and

victim empathy. The year 2009 saw some changes to the educational programmes to

inmates, with the addition of post-secondary vocational certifications at the Utah,

Department of corrections. Programmes include residential construction automotive and

culinary arts. Although in some prisons in Nigeria while Enugu prison, Port-Harcourt

prison, a warder during oral interview revealed that inmates are allowed opportunity to

enroll for educational activities even up to degree programs and computer education,

inmates of Medium Security Prisons, Makurdi, only have a programme of primary school

education and only one teacher from adult education programme has been coming. The

question now is “can the one teacher teaches the entire subjects. However, those who

learned vocational training such as tailoring/fashion & design, carpentry, laundry which are

available in Medium Security Prison, Makurdi used to be given federal trade test

certificates.

d.Spiritual Activities

Prisons around the country provide religious programs and activities, with some

prisons recognizing more than two dozen religions. To address the spiritual needs of

inmates, activities include worship services, religious courses, prayer services and scripture

study courses. Some prisons provide chaplains to assist inmates with crises intervention and

to assist them during times of personal crises. An interview with a prison officer and even
29
 the inmate’s provost revealed that in Medium Security Prison, Makurdi inmates participates

actively in religious programmes. They have both Christians and Muslim religions. Muslims

Faithful used to have their prayers on Fridays while Christian inmates have their worship

services on Sundays. Rev. Fathers used to come and conduct mass for the inmates and other

Pentecostal bodies like House of Mercy Intl., Dunamis Intl. gospel center etc do conduct

prayers, worship services for the inmates of Makurdi Medium Security Prison.

e. Reformation

This simply means making the offenders better by trying to change

his delinquent behavior. Article 59 of the United Nations on Standard Minimum Rules for

the treatment of offenders’ states: “To this end (Reformation) the institution should seek to

utilize all the remedial, education, moral, spiritual and other forces and forms of assistance

which are appropriate and available and should seek to apply them according to the

individual treatment needs of the prisoner and Medium Security Prison is trying her effort

towards this noble task”.

f. Rehabilitation

This means bringing the offender to normal life. To rehabilitate an

individual, he must be “straightened out” deep within his own personality. He maintains

that the rehabilitative activities of the modern prison generally have been of two kinds: (a)

Psychological or psychiatric treatment (b) Educational or vocational programmes. Medium

Security Prison has a psychologist who handles the psychological needs of the inmates”.

g. Security

Nigeria Prisons Service as well as Medium Security Prison Makurdi among other

things plays an important role in the security of the nation especially in the area of internal

security. Among its activities towards the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates, Nigeria

Prison Service (Medium Security Prison inclusive) keeps safe custody of inmates.
30
h. Discipline and Disciplinary Action

By discipline is meant training that is expected to produce a specified character or pattern

of behavior which will lead to moral and mental improvement. It also includes pattern of

behavior that will lead to adherence to approved rules of the society. Discipline and

Disciplinary Action must stay in penal institutions until further researches produce the other

alternatives. And Medium Security Prison Makurdi is not relenting in this direction.

i. Medical Treatment

When a prisoner falls sick, he should be sent to the hospital for proper treatment and

Medium Security Prison has a hospital with qualified medical personnel- doctors, nurses, and

lab. Technicians, theatre nurse to handle inmates’ illness cases while higher cases are referred

to outside hospital like Federal Medical Center Makurdi for further and better management.

Though non supply of drugs is the major challenge facing the hospital from the Prison

National Headquarters Abuja.

2.7 Factors hindering the correction of inmates by the Prison Officials

According to Sir Mike Emeka (SP. FCAI) 2012 pg. 120 and 121, the Nigeria prisons are

statutorily charged with the responsibility or task of maintaining/ensuring the safe custody of

offenders as well as their reformation and rehabilitation. The prisons appear to have done their

best within the constraints posed by a number of problems according to the Nigeria Prisons

annual report 1984, these problems include:

a.Inadequate residential and office accommodation for staff near the prison to enable staff to

respond immediately to crises situation in prisons during riots or escape.

b.Inadequate funding for the maintenance of existing infrastructures and equipment.

31
 c.Gross inadequacy of essentials such as blankets, beds, soaps, disinfectants, prisoner’s

uniforms etc.

d.Lack of promotion for eligible staff with the resultant low morale and frustrations and by

extension, low production.

e.Acute shortage of staff resulting from dismissals, retirements, resignations deaths embargo

on recruitment etc.

f.Abandonment of capital projects mainstream, thus aggravating prisons congestion.

g.Continuous use of grass walls instead of concrete perimeter wall which discourages escape.

h.Continuous use of bucket latrines which constitutes health hazards in some prisons.

i.Acute shortage of drugs and ambulances in prisons clinics, leading to high mortality rate

among prisoners.

j.Lack of vehicles to convey staff and prisoners as well as materials to where they are badly

needed for efficient administration and operational services. Above is the overview of the

general challenges Nigeria prisons service experience and whose activities are being

paralyzed.

In his work, sir Mike E. (JP), page 149 speaks of Nigeria prison’s challenges to include

poor funding of prisons by the government, outdated structure in the prisons reminiscent of

colonial era including office accommodation for officers, no hospital/health- care for the staff

and inmates, staff sometimes fall victim of communicable diseases, epidemic and other

hazards prevalent in the prison environment, grossly insufficient official car and duty vehicles

as well as non-availability of staff buses, dilapidated and outdated barracks housing unit built

in the colonial days often pathetic flooded and hereby having portable waters, electricity
32
 supply, drainage, staff children school like their contemporaries Army and Navy, bucket

system still prevalent, non-availability of communication and modern security gadgets.

Looking at the role of Nigeria Prisons Service in National development, one of the

earliest colonial institutions bequeathed on Africa (Nigeria inclusive), by the colonial Britain

was the prison system. This was partly to sustain imperialist ideals and potent trade ventures

in the coasts of Africa and partly to definitely domesticate the traditional chief who resisted

such imposition of western structures on their erstwhile traditional polity (Obiandu 1997-1).

With the above view the prison institution was an instrument of coercion in the hand of

the colonial masters with a view to protecting their capitalist interest not to protect the society

and the people except to the extent that it needed to stop trade in man (slavery) and human

sacrifices. The prison system was mainly custodial and punitive as the large number of

inmates in custody and the available farmlands were not put into either plantation economy or

into factory production, however when Mr. Dollan became the director of her majesty’s prison

in 1946, introduced a lot changes in the system and turned the face of penology from being

punitive to being humane. Trading schemes were introduced and skills acquisition

programmes started with inmates undergoing both formal and functional education

programmes.

2.8 Theoretical Framework

Rehabilitation Theory

The study adopted rehabilitation theory as its theoretical framework. Rehabilitation has

long been a contentious topic in the fields of both criminology and penology. The term

“rehabilitation” itself simply means the process of helping a person to readapt to society or to

restore someone to a former position or rank. However, this concept has taken on many different

33
meanings over the years and waxed and waned in popularity as a principle of sentencing or

justification for punishment. The means used to achieve reform in prisons have also varied over

time, beginning with silence, isolation, labour, and punishment, then moving onto medically

based interventions including drugs and psychosurgery. More recently educational, vocational,

and psychologically based programs, as well as specialized services for specific problems, have

typically been put forward as means to reform prisoners during their sentence.

The theory was propounded during the Jacksonian era of the late 19th century. Reformers

hoped that felons would be “kept in solitude, reflecting penitently on their sins in order that they

might cleanse and transform themselves” (Irwin,1980, p. 2). Initially, under the Pennsylvania

system, it was believed that solitary confinement, accompanied by silent contemplation and

Bible study, was a means to redemption. This approach was later transformed in the Auburn

system into one of discipline and labour, also performed in silence. Through hard work and a

strict disciplinary regime, prisoners were meant to meditate over why they chose a criminal path

in order to amend their ways.

Disciplinary infractions were met with corporal punishments. At this time, prisoners were

responsible for their own rehabilitation, since the causes of crime were thought to result from

individuals ‘inability to lead orderly and God-fearing lives. In the latter part of the 19th century,

the penitentiary gave way to the reformatory, which attempted to rehabilitate offenders through

educational and vocational training, in conjunction with quasi-military regimes. Reformatories

introduced a system of classification of prisoners that allowed for their individualized treatment.

Prisoners progressed through graded stages contingent on their conduct and performance in

programs. They could even work toward early release. Reformatories, although developed

around the concept of rehabilitation, continued to advocate physical punishment for non-

conformity and later regressed to more punitive regimens consistent with the reemergence of

retribution at that time.

34
 Future sentencing practices would only have to consider the crime, with little concern for

factors such as amenability to treatment or social and familial history. However, in spite of this

political climate, some people continue to believe in the importance and possibility of

rehabilitation in incarceration policy and practice. For example, the language of the mission

statement of the ministry of interior reflects a strong emphasis on societal protection and safe and

humane confinement, while still promoting “work and other self-improvement opportunities to

assist offenders in becoming law abiding citizens” Dambazau, A. B. (1994)

Although not couched in medical or rehabilitative terminology, the federal prison system

continues to offer a variety of programs directed toward this end, including work, occupational

and vocational training, recreation and wellness activities, and substance abuse treatment.

Current efforts in some states also indicate that the tide may be turning once again toward

rehabilitation as renewed efforts are being seen through revamped educational and vocational

training. This type of programming differs greatly from that seen in earlier periods and is now

much more closely linked to training for specific types of employment, as evidenced by existing

programs in makurdi medium security prison, through which prisoners build house hold furniture

and indoor house fittings for state agencies and even private homes. A central notion behind this

form of rehabilitation is that prisoners will be equipped with skills upon release that will allow

them to earn competitive salaries and avoid criminal activity in the future. Officials declare that

these efforts have had a positive impact on recidivism, as the percentage of admissions who were

returning parolees in 2000 was 25%, down from 47% in 1995.Nonetheless, the critiques of such

programs echo earlier ones, with some expressing concern that such efforts are wasting money

and that such training may infringe on the labour market. Some rehabilitative efforts do in fact

have some effect on recidivism. A series of meta-analyses of the outcomes of correctional

rehabilitation programs on recidivism has revealed that those that achieve the greatest reductions

use “cognitive behavioral treatments, target known predictors of crime for change, and intervene
35
mainly with high-risk offenders” (Cullen & Gendreau, 2000, p. 110). Rates of reoffending tell

very little about the efficacy of rehabilitation programs, per se, as they could well ignore

improvements that may have occurred in other areas, because much crime remains undetected,

and because reoffending behavior may have little to do with areas targeted by initial

programming efforts.

Inmates are, in essence, involuntary clients of intervention efforts. They have not freely chosen

to participate in rehabilitation programs, and they are unlikely to do so without the benefit of

incentives that the prison administration offers them in exchange for participation. These include

such considerations as early parole, better living conditions, and increased inmate pay. While

prisoners have the right to refuse to participate in intervention programs, the idea of early release

is so appealing that many cooperate simply as a means to an end. For the prison administration,

the implicit coercion involved in this process is outweighed by the fact that the prisoner attains a

benefit in exchange for cooperation. However, this thinking ignores the fact that rehabilitation

cannot take place by force, and in the long run, “sham” cooperation will not result in any lasting

change.

The concept and practice of rehabilitation continues to evolve and change in correctional

institutions. While the state and the public have a vested interest in prisoners leaving prison as no

more of a social burden than when they went in, if rehabilitative efforts are to have any real

impact, they must take into account the lessons of the past. These include considerations of

individual needs, sensitivity to race, gender, and culture, and an awareness of them any

limitations the prison environment imposes in offering opportunities for change.

CHAPTER THREE
AN OVERVIEW OF BENUE STATE AND THE HISTORY OF PRISONS IN NIGERIA.

3.1 An overview of Benue State (People, Setting, Society and Economy).

36
 Benue State is one of the middle belt States in Nigeria with a population of about

4,253,641 in (2006 census). It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma and Igede peoples,

who speak Tiv, Idoma, and Igede languages respectively. The Idomas comprise the Ufia's

(Utonkon) to Orokam at the west border of the state. There are other ethnic groups, including the

Etulo, Abakwa, Jukun, Hausa, Igbo,Igala people,Akweya and Nyifon. With its capital at

Makurdi, Benue is a rich agricultural region; popularly grown crops includes; potatoes, cassava,

soya bean, guinea corn, flax, yams, sesame, rice, and groundnuts, Palm Tree.

Benue State is named after the Benue River and was formed from the former Benue-

Plateau State in 1976, along with Igala and some part of Kwara State. In 1991 some areas of

Benue state (mostly Igala area), along with areas in Kwara State, were carved out to become part

of the new Kogi State. Igbo people are found in the boundary areas of Ebonyi State and Enugu

State in local government areas like the Obi, Oju etc.

Samuel Ortom is the governor and Benson Abounu is the deputy governor. Both are All

Progressives Congress (APC) members.

Benue state has three universities: Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue

State University, Makurdi, and University of Mkar, Mkar, Gboko. It has two polytechnics: Benue

State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo and Fidei polytechnic, Gboko as well as the AkperanOrshi college

of Agriculture Yandev. There are about four colleges of education which are Federal College of

Education Agasha, College of Education Oju, College of Education Kastina Ala. Benue State as

it exists today is a surviving legacy of an administrative entity which was carved out of the

protectorate of northern Nigeria at the beginning of the twentieth century. The territory was

initially known as Munshi Province until 1918 when the name of its dominant geographical

feature, the 'Benue River' was adopted.

3.1.1 Population Structure and Distribution

37
 The State which has a total population of 4,253,641 in 2006 census, with an average

population density of 99 persons per km2. This makes Benue the 9th most populous state in

Nigeria. However, the distribution of the population according to Local government areas shows

marked duality.

There are areas of low population density such as Guma, Gwer East, Ohimini, Katsina-

Ala, Apa, Logo and Agatu, each with less than seventy persons per km2, while Vandeikya,

Okpokwu, Ogbadibo, Obi and Gboko have densities ranging from 140 persons to 200 persons

per km2. Makurdi LGA has over 380 persons per km2. The males are 49.8 percent of the total

population while females constitute 50.2 per cent.

3.1.2 Settlement Pattern and Urbanization

Benue State region was depleted of its human population during the slave trade. It is

largely rural, with scattered settlements mainly in tiny compounds or homesteads, whose

population range from 630 people, most of whom are farmers.

Urbanization in Benue State did not predate the colonial era. The few towns established during

colonial rule remained very small (less than 30,000 people) up to the creation of Benue State in

1976.Benue towns can be categorized into three groups. The first group consists of those with a

population of 80,000 to 500,000 people. These include Makurdi, the State Capital, Gboko and

Otukpo the "headquarters" of the two dominant ethnic groups (125,944 and 88,958 people

respectively). The second group comprises towns with a population of between 20,000 and

50,000 people and includes Katsina-Ala, Zaki-Biam, Ukumand Adikpo, Kwande. These are all

local government headquarters. The third category comprises towns with a population of 10,000

to 19,000 people and includes Vandeikya, Lessel, lhugh, Naka, Adoka, Aliade, Okpoga, lgumale,

Oju, Utonkon, Ugbokolo, Wannune, Ugbokpo, Otukpa, Ugba and Korinya. Most of these towns

38
are headquarters of recently created Local Government Areas and/or district headquarters or

major market areas. Some of the headquarters of the newly created LGAs have populations of

less than 10,000 people. Such places include Tse-Agberaba, Gbajimba, Buruku, Idekpa, Obagaji

and Obarikeito. Apart from earth roads, schools, periodic markets and chemists (local drug

stores), the rural areas are largely used for farming, relying on the urban centres for most of their

urban needs. Benue State has no problem of capital city primacy. Rather, three towns stand out

very clearly as important urban centres which together account for more than 70 per cent of the

social amenities provided in the state and almost all the industrial establishments. These centres

are Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo. They are amongst the oldest towns in the state and are growing

at a much faster rate than the smaller younger towns.

Makurdi doubles as the capital of the state and the headquarters of Makurdi LGA, while

Gboko, Otukpo and Oju double as local government and ethnic headquarters (i.e. for Tiv, Idoma,

and Igede). All the roads in the state radiate from these three centres. As an administrative unit,

Benue State was first created on 3 February 1976. It was one of the seven states created by the

military administration headed by General Murtala Mohammed, which increased the number of

states in the country from 13 to 19. In 1991, its boundaries were re-adjusted with the creation of

Kogi State. The new Benue State of today has twenty (23) local government areas, which are

administered by local government councils.

3.1.3 Mineral / Natural Resources

Benue State is blessed with abundant mineral resources. These resources are distributed

in the Local Government Areas of the state. Of these mineral resources, only Limestone at Tse-

Kucha near Gboko and Kaolinite at Otukpo are being commercially exploited. Other mineral

deposits include Baryte, Gypsum, Feldspar, Wolframite, Kaolinite, mineral salts and Gemstone

etc.
39
 Benue State is the nation's acclaimed food basket because of its rich agricultural produce

which include Yam, Rice, Beans, Cassava, Sweet-potato, Maize, Soybean, Sorghum, Millet,

Sesame, cocoyam etc. The state accounts for over 70% of Nigeria's Soybean production.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, engaging over 75% of the state farming population.

The State also boasts of one of the longest stretches of river systems in the country with great

potential for a viable fishing industry, dry season farming through irrigation and for an inland

water highway. The vegetation of the southern parts of the state is characterized by forests, which

yield trees for timber and provide a suitable habitat for rare animal’s types and species. The state

thus possesses potential for the development of viable forest and wildlife reserves.

3.1.4 People and culture

The state is populated by several ethnic groups: Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Etulo, Abakpa, Jukun,

Hausa, Igbo, Akweya and Nyifon. The Tiv are the dominant ethnic group, occupying 14 local

government areas with the Etulo and Jukun , while the Idoma, Igede, Igbo, Akweya and Nyifon

occupy the remaining nine local government areas. Most of the people are farmers while the

inhabitants of the river areas engage in fishing as their primary or important secondary

occupation. The people of the state are famous for their cheerful and hospitable disposition as

well as rich cultural heritage.

3.1.5 Traditional Rulers

The Benue State Government accords high respect to traditional rulers in recognition of

their role as custodians of culture and as agents of development. Also, their roles in enhancing

peace and order at the grassroots level are also recognized. To enhance their contribution to the

affairs of the state, government has established a three-tier traditional council system made up of

Local Government Area Traditional Councils, Area Traditional Councils and the State Council of

40
Chiefs with the Tor Tiv (Tiv king) as chairman. The two Area Councils are the Tiv Traditional

Council and the Idoma Traditional Council. The former has the Tor Tiv (Tiv King) as chairman

of all the traditional rulers from the Tiv dominant Local Government Areas, while the latter has

the Och' Idoma (Idoma king) as the chairman of all the traditional rulers from the Idoma

dominant Local Government Areas.

The State Council of Chiefs had the Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Professor James Ortese Iorzua

Ayatse (Tor Tiv), with Och'Idoma and all second class Chiefs/Chairmen of the Local

Government Traditional Council as members.

3.1.6 Culture

Benue State possesses a rich and diverse cultural heritage which finds expression in

colourful cloths, exotic masquerades, supplicated music and dances. Traditional dances from

Benue State have won acclaim at national and international cultural festivals. The most popular

of these dances include Ingyough, Ange, Anchanakupa, Swange and Ogirinya among others. The

socio-religious festivals of the people, colourful dances, dresses and songs are also of tourist

value. The Alekwu ancestral festival of the Idoma people, for instance, is an occasion when the

local people believe their ancestors re-established contact with the living in the form of

masquerades.

The lgede-Agba is a Yam Festival, marked every year in September by the lgede people

of Oju and Obi local government areas. Among the Tiv, the Tiv Day, marriage ceremonies and

dance competitions (e.g. Swange dance) are often very colourful. Kwagh-hir is a very

entertaining Tiv puppet show. Social life in Benue State is also enriched by the availability of

diverse recreational facilities. Apart from parks, beaches, dancing and masquerades mentioned

above, the big hotels in Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo are equipped with several indoor sporting

41
facilities. There are golf clubs, the Makurdi Club, Railway Club, Police Club and Air Force Club,

where, apart from the sale of drinks and snacks, various types of games are played.

There is a standard Arts Theatre, a modern Sports Complex which includes the AperAku

Stadium, which has provisions for such games as tennis, basketball, volleyball and handball, an

indoor sports hall and Olympic size swimming pool in Makurdi. A Smaller stadia exist in Gboko

(J. S. Tarka Stadium), Katsina-Ala, Adikpo, Vandeikya and Otukpo. The BCC Lawn Tennis

tournament attracts players from all over the country. Benue State has three teams in the

professional soccer ranks, Lobi Stars F.C. in Division One, BCC Lions FC in Division Two,

Mark mentors as the basketball premier league team.

3.1.7 The State Capital

Makurdi, the state capital was established in the early twenties and gained prominence in

1927 when it became the headquarters of the then Benue Province. Its commercial status was

further enhanced when the Railway Bridge was completed and opened in 1932. In 1976, the

town became the capital of Benue State and today, doubles as the headquarters of Makurdi Local

Government Area. The town is divided by the River Benue into the north and south banks, which

are connected by two bridges: the railway bridge, which was built in 1932, and the new dual

carriage bridge commissioned in 1978.

The southern part of the town is made up of several wards, including Central Ward, Old

GRA, Ankpa Ward, Wadata Ward, High Level, Wurukum (Low Level), New GRA etc. Important

establishments and offices located here include the Government House, The State Secretariat,

The Federal Secretariat, The Central Bank of Nigeria Regional headquarters, Commercial Banks,

Telecommunication companies, Police Headquarters, Nigeria Prisons Service, Aper Aku

Stadium, Nigeria Air force Base, Makurdi, The Makurdi Modern Market, the Federal Medical

42
Centre, Nigeria Railway Station, Benue Printing and Publishing Company Limited, Radio

Benue, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Nigerian Postal service, Benue Hotels Makurdi,

Benue Plaza hotel, Benue State University, Benue State Breweries.

The North bank area of the town houses among other establishments, the Federal

University of Agriculture, the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, the headquarters

of the 72 Airborne Battalion and the State Headquarters of the Department of Customs and

Excise. Owing to its location in the valley of River Benue, Makurdi experiences warm

temperatures most of the year. The period from November to January, when the harmattan

weather is experienced is, however, relatively cool.

Makurdi can be reached by air, rail, road and water. The major northern route is the

Makurdi – Lafia – Jos road. The southern routes are Makurdi – Otukpo – Enugu and Makurdi –

Yandev – Adikpo – Calabar roads. Traffic from the west comes through Makurdi – Naka –

Adoka - Ankpa – Okeneroads and from the east through Makurdi – Yandev – KatsinaAla –

Wukari roads. These Makurdi Rail Bridge provides the only rail link between the northern and

eastern parts of Nigeria. Makurdi Airport has the Nigerian Airways and other private airlines

provide air links between Makurdi and the rest of the country. The beautiful beaches of River

Benue can be exploited to provide good sites for relaxation. The river itself provides tourist

opportunities for boating angling and swimming. The Makurdi Moratorium that houses a variety

of animals including some rare species also serves as another feature of tourist attraction.

3.1.8 Local Government Areas

Benue State consists of twenty-three (23) Local Government Areas and Headquarters are:

Ado Igumale
Agatu Obagaji
Apa Ugbokpo
Buruku Buruku

43
Gboko Gboko
Guma Gbajimba
Gwer East Aliade
Gwer West Naka
Katsina-Ala Katsina-Ala
Konshisha Tse-Agberagba
Kwande Adikpo
Logo Ugba
Makurdi Makurdi
Obi Obarike-Ito
Ogbadibo Otukpa
Ohimini Idekpa
Oju Anyuwogbu-ibilla
Okpokwu Okpoga
Otukpo Otukpo
Tarka Wannune
Ukum Sankera
Ushongo Lessel
Vandeikya Vandeikya
3.1,9 Economy
Agriculture forms the backbone of the Benue State economy, engaging more than 70 per

cent of the working population. This has made Benue the major source of food production in the

Nation. It can still be developed because most of the modern techniques are not yet popular to

98% of Nigeria. Mechanization and plantation agriculture/agro-forestry are still at its infancy.

Farm inputs such as fertilizers, improved seed, insecticides and other foreign methods are being

increasingly used. However, cost and availability is still a challenge. Important cash crops

include Soy-beans, Rice, Peanuts, mango varieties, Citrus etc. Other cash crops include Palm oil,

Melon, African pear, Chili pepper, Tomatoes etc. Food crops include Yam, Cassava, Sweet

potato, Beans, Maize, Millet, Guinea corn, Vegetables etc. There is very little irrigation

agriculture and techniques. Animal production includes Cattle, Pork, Poultry and Goat but no

dairy and dairy products yet.

3.1.10 Commerce and industry

44
 Banking services are available as all the banks in Nigeria have branches in the state with

the Central Bank of Nigeria having its regional headquarters in Makurdi. Dangote Cement

Company is a private company that operates within the state and provides a little employment to

the people. A rough estimated employment percentage in the state: 75% are farmers, 10%

traders, 6% civil servants, 9% private.

Benue State has the capacity to support a wide range of industries using local agricultural

and mineral resources although potentials are yet to be exploited. Private initiatives in commerce

and industry, particularly by indigenes, is as also on a small scale and is limited to carpentry,

shoe repairs and manufacturing, small scale rice mills, leather and plastic industries, weaving,

printing, catering, block making, food processing etc. Industry and commerce have been greatly

retarded by the absence of capital funds, basic infrastructure and the frequent political changes.

3.1.11 Infrastructure and Transportation

The location of Benue State in the Centre of the country plus the presence of bridges on

two large rivers, the Benue River and Katsina-Ala River, make the state a major cross-roads

centre. Two major highways connect the Eastern States to the North and North East. The present

government has shown commitment to the construction of roads within the state capital Makurdi

and other major roads leading in and out of the state. The roads are in an excellent condition.The

eastern rail line connects Makurdi, Otukpo, Taraku, Utonkon and lgumale with the rest of the

country. Altogether, about 180 km of rail line traverses the state.

Historical monuments in the state include the Royal Niger Company Trading Stores at

Makurdi and Gbileve near Katsina-Ala; the tombs of the first Dutch missionaries at Harga and

Sai in Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas; the tombs of the legendary politician, Mr. J. S.

Tarka and past three Tor Tiv in Gboko town; and the trench fortifications in Turan district of

45
Kwande local government areas which were dug by the Tiv to ward off Chamba invasions in the

19th century.

At Utonkon, is a thick forest with tall giant trees, the centre of which used to serve as a

slave trade market, but is now the site of shrines and a periodic market. Swem is a shrine site at

the foot of the Cameroon range in Kwande local government area from where the Tivs were said

to have originated.

3.2 History of Prisons as an institution for rehabilitation/reformation in Nigeria

The administration of prison, like any other organization, involves management

functions. It embraces the external relationships of the elements and processes. Since

these are all human activities, administration or management is about human relationship.

It cannot therefore be assigned to the boss and forgotten by everyone else.

Therefore, for effective prison administration Elias, wrote that “there are five (5) classes

of prison in Nigeria, namely convict prisons, divisional, provincial, lock-up prisons and

prisons camps”. A convict prisons receives all classes of prisoners, that is both long and

short sentence, condemned criminals and those of them gazette as asylums. It also

receives lunatics: examples of such prisons include Enugu, Jos, Warri and Port Harcourt

prisons.

A divisional prison is of administrative creative and not statutory, examples are

Uyo, Ikot-Ekpene, Afikpo and Agbor. Such prisons are under the command of either

superintendents or assistant superintendents, in addition to a number of Divisional prisons

and camps. The status of most of these prisons has changed, owing to the reorganization

that took place around 1995.

46
 Our laws, therefore, emphasize the primitive aspect. The prisoner has offended

the state and the state exacts legal sanction on him as prison officers regard the restriction

of the personal freedom of the prisoners as enough punishment, and any emphasis on it

will conflict with the idea of reformation, which is the vital consideration in the modern

treatment of offenders (Prison inmates). Deterrence imprisonment serves to deter both the

prisoner and the public at large. Everybody dreads deprivation of liberty, however; short-

offence imprisonment terrifies the majority of people and tends to make them better law-

abiding citizens. There is specific deterrence, which brings punishment personally to the

convict and with the hard unnatural life in prison with the law.

Protection of the society in most cases is temporary as the society is only secured

from the menace of the prisoner when he is in the prison. But when he returns to the

society, the danger of his return to crime arises. But permanent protection is achieved

where the prisoners are reformed and rehabilitate on discharge. A most successful and

permanent protection is achieved by executing the convict as in the case of armed robbers

in Nigeria and capital cases. Opinions and legislation on capital punishment all over the

world are varied. The aim can only be achieved if the period of imprisonment is used by

the administrator to ensure, so far as possible, that upon his return to the society the

offender is not only willing but able to leave a law abiding and self-supporting life. To

this end, the administrator should utilize the entire remedial, educational, moral, spiritual

and other forces and forms of assistance which are appropriate and available and should

seek to apply them according to the individual treatment needs of the prisoners.

We have to reform the prisoners by good example, inculcating in them the

habit of good conduct, proper fueling, and bring other forces as vocational, moral and

spiritual training to bear on them so that, if the prison administration is designed to protect

47
 society against its dangerous and mischievous elements, its first duty after securing the

safe custody of the offender is to ensure at least that a man emerging from prison is no

more depraved than when he entered it.

3.2.1 The practice of imprisonment in the early days

Adeyemi, (2014) in his contribution looked at the price of imprisonment in

the early days. His views were rather aimed at finding out the bases of imprisonment. To

him, before the advent of the British, people who had breached the laws of the society

were subjected to hanging, beheading, maiming, stoning, drowning, burning alive,

ostracism, exile, and fine and in other cases, humiliation. There were specific penalties

following certain offences such as fines for stealing, a death sentence for unlawful

homicide, exile for in-cast.

3.2.2 Prison facilities in Nigeria

The following are some of the typical prison in Nigeria.

1.Medium Security Prison, Makurdi: As a correctional institution, being a formation of

the Nigerian Prisons Service, the present Makurdi Medium Security Prisons was built and

tagged (Modern Prison) to meet up with the kind of facility required by the standards set

by the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Offenders.

The Medium Security Prison, Makurdi is a 240 bed prison(capacity) and was built

1992 and commissioned by Chief Sunday Michael Afolabi (JP) who was the then

Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs on 10th January, 1992 and it was witnessed by the

then Controller General of Prisons, Alhaji Ibrahim Jarma. The Medium Security Prisons

is located on KM 8 along Otukpo Road Makurdi and Makurdi where the prison is located

is the capital city of Benue State. The population of the inmates as at september, 2021 are

48
 1,339 males, and 36 females of which Awaiting Trial Inmates are 1,076, sentenced

inmates 229 bringing to 1,375 inmates in total. Furthermore, 3,250 inmates have been

released either through state pardon, bail and completed jail term so far from the prison

since its inception from 1992 – 2021.

2.Kirikiri: The Apapa (KiriKiri) prison was designed in 1962. The maximum security

establishment has a 6m perimeter-wall, the administrative block integrated into the

gatehouse and providing a visitor room. A two-storey hospital wing has a large ward, a

surgery and nursing accommodation. The assembly hall in the center of the prison, with

adjacent rooms, forms the focus of official social life of the prisoner; lecturers and classes

other meetings and religious service all take place there. The living and working

accommodations make up eight-association block; four-cell block plus an execution cell-

block and nine workshops, throughout the prisons. By 1969, the Kirikiri prison complex

was operating with a daily population of nearly 150 percent of what it was originally

designed to contain. The medium security establishment is similar but of smaller design

and without the complication of an execution block. It is worth noting that most of these

structures, facilities and equipment in all the prisons have remained unadorned and

stabilized for the last two decades.

3.Kakuri prison camp: The prison camp at Kakuri, south of Kaduna, is rapidly becoming a

model farm center, similar to others establishment spread in some states of the federation.

There is every reason to believe that agricultural training establishment operated under the

minimum-security conditions has a great part to play in future prison development in

Nigeria. The layout of the Kakuri open prison is ordinarily different from that of a closed

institution like the maximum-security set-up at Kirikiri. The prison at Kakuri is laid out in

an undulating atmosphere.

3.2.3 Records on prison in Nigeria

49
 Available records from the federal ministry of interior indicate that Nigeria

prisons are congested. According to Ali, (2009) under normal circumstance, our 123

prisons, 244 lock-up facilities and 2 bobstays should cater for 26,000 inmates instead of

41,000. He declared that a physical examination of the prisons in the country showed that

they were erected during the colonial era and were intended for only a handful of

prisoners. He added that most of the buildings had become totally inadequate for present-

day requirements that in consequence, prisoners now sleep on the bare floor and others

share single bed. He had cause to regret when he stated that the Shagaamu prison, for

example, which was designed for 49 prisoners, contain 117 inmates as at the end of

January 1983, whereas the Ilaro prison had 259 prisoners instead of the 126 it was

supposed to accommodate, thus accommodating more than 100% of its original capacity.

The forty-eight (48) prisons, which formed the major federal prison system before 1966,

today incarcerate an intake of well-over 75,000 prisoners a year. About half of these

inmates are received under sentence of imprisonment following criminal conviction:

slightly less than half of these are on remand, usually awaiting trial, with a small

percentage as debtors. Until recent years, the intake included a number of persons

committed for safe custody on the ground of insanity.

Biadu, (1992) stated that there were 1,388 prisoners at the prison as against

547 (about 120%, over subscribed). The situation in Kaduna prison is typical of what

obtains in other prisons throughout the country. Congestion has for long been a regular

feature of the nation’s prison. There are many prison inmates who have been on remand

for more than the period they normally would serve, if they were jailed in the first place.

There are many trivial offences, which do not justify prison terms.

The record further indicated that more than 45,000 Nigerians are now over-

crowding the various prisons in the country. This figure is about 20,000 in excess of the
50
 number of prisoners, the prison was originally designed to accommodate. According to the

Daily Times on December 1st 1982, “out of 45,000 people locked behind the bars, more

than 15,000 of them are awaiting trials, some for more than nine years. About 500 others

are detained, while more than 2,000 were given option of fine but could not pay such fine”

reports from all over the country indicates that the congestion is most acute in jailhouses

situated in the cities.

He further maintained that, the Kano Central Prison (GidanYari) which was

designed for 690 inmates, now has than 1,680 inmates locked behind the bars, while the

Enugu prison hold about 1,405 detainees with 767 inmates above the number that should

be accommodated. The congestion in the various Nigeria prisons has resulted, on many

occasions, in outbreaks of epidemics (Onitsha prison faced small pox infection) and the

prison riot sometimes leading to death and frequent jailbreak. One of such is the jailbreak

that took place in Enugu prison May, 2009 and that of Bauchi prison were the prison was

attacked by members of Boko Haram. The prison at Ilorin had so far witnessed two prison

riots in a matter of five months; the hottest being on the 17 th of May, 1983, when a total of

7-armed robbers, convicted to the gallows escaped.

Nigeria prison shares the problem of over-crowding with the British, the

USA counter-parts, with additional problems arising from their physical structure. Prisons

populations have nearly doubled since 1970. In 1992, 12.1% increase was the fastest in the

country. A report in the time magazine issued in 13/9/93 has observed that, the inmates

nationwide has been growing “by more than 170 a day, and during the next few weeks will

probably edge over 400,000; not quite haft consists of black people with about 4%

women”.

At the current rate of growth, coupled with level of militancy and

kidnapping in the Niger-Delta and part of South Eastern Zone, the number of inmates
51
 would double again by 2020. On 29th December 2009, about 30 kidnappers were

remanded in Imo prison by the court awaiting indefinite trial.

3.3.4 The Problem of Nigerian Prison System

The Nigerian prisons have been enormously characterized by some

problems, which several studies have indicated to be the reasons for the inadequacies of

the system as a corrective institution. In various respects, life in Nigerian prisons in

general is overly regimented to the extent that there is strict control in virtually all

activities of the inmates. This often leaves the prisoners in a mentally brutalized manner

with broken body and spirit, which destroys the individuals. In this regard, it is apparent

that the prisons system in Nigeria is faced with the problem of destroying the individual

members of the community, which negates the essence of imprisonment, amounting to

human development wastage in the national calculus. It is evident that various prisons in

Nigeria are saddled with the problem of turning out maladjusted releases. Studies like

Obioha (1995), Adetula et al. (2010) have shown that contact with the prison institution in

Nigeria makes the less hardened individuals to be more hardened in criminal activities

upon release, with more tendencies than not, to relapse to criminal activities, which

generates high frequency of recidivism. According to Adetula et al. (2010), the penal

institutions subsystems; the justice, the police, prison yard and the operatives’ ways of

administering justice is believed to bring about breeding and enhancing criminal behavior

and recidivists than serving; deterrence, repentance, reformatory and reconciliatory

attitudes between ex-convicts and people in free society to enhance confidence in physical

and conceptual security. This position has also been validated in other countries. For

example, the study of Gendreau et al. (1999) in Canada found a positive correlation

between length of stay in the prisons and the offenders’ rate of recidivism, especially for

the high risk group. In other words, the longer an offender stays in the prisons the more
52
 the possibility of recidivism and vice-versa. However, the fundamental cause of this post-

release problem of maladjustment and recidivism could be traced to the lock up pattern

and content of the prisons. In most prisons in Nigeria, the remand and convict populations;

the minor and serious offenders’, the younger and older inmates are not systematically

sorted out in different cells according to the Standard Minimum Rules for imprisonment,

which prescribes that prisoners should be locked up according to their various categories.

The Nigerian prisons have been identified as a veritable avenue for human resources

wastage in the society. There is idleness and wastage among the inmates, while old time

trade ideas and occupations vanish (Obioha 1995). Where there are existing trade and

skills acquisition centers within the prison yards, they are either not functioning or

unsuitable for some of the inmates who may prefer other trades and educational learning

processes that are nonexistence in the prisons rehabilitation curriculum. For instance,

some inmates have demonstrated ability and the desire to acquire higher academic

qualifications while in the prison in order to improve on both their social status and meet

up with their life educational ambition which may not necessarily be related to the

vocational trades in the prison yard. It is not an exaggeration to adduce that Nigerian

Prisons System is a home for idle minds due to lack of what to do, lack of workshop

facilities (Aiyedogbon 1988; Obioha 1995) and lack of good skills, which the prisoners

would like to learn (Ishaka et al. 1986; Kanagiwa 1986). In relation to social

infrastructure, there are no good recreational facilities and other amenities in most prisons

in Nigeria, as reported by Soyinka (1972) Kangiwa (1986) and Obioha (1995) in Sokoto

and Ibadan prison yards respectively. The Nigerian prison environment with regard to

amenities have been characterized as “uncheerful” (Awolowo 1985), “dehumanizing”

(Soyinka 1972), and “a hell” by Abubakar Rimi after his life experience as a political

prisoner in Nigeria at the termination of the second republic. This lack of social amenities
53
 accounts for the culture of fragility and explosive social violence that is recurrent and

descriptive of Nigerian prison community over the years. Physical infrastructure and

housing facility could better be described as uncivilized. The rooms and cells are not good

for human habitation, while the beddings are in most cases absent as many prison inmates

in Nigeria sleep on bare floor. Furthermore, in spite of the heinous cry by human rights

organisations, most prison yards in Nigeria are overcrowded beyond the designed

population (Ifionu et al. 1987; Obioha 1995). This manifests in most of the prisons holding

more population of inmates than they were originally planned to accommodate, which in

turn overstretches available infrastructure beyond their limits of function due to human

pressure. It is a recurring administrative problem that had been identified in notable

Nigerian prisons prior to colonial rule, as Lord Fredrick Lugard (1903) notes about the

Kano prisons, (cited in Meek1969) “the Kano prisons in Nigeria prior to colonial rule

were highly congested to the extent that inmates have trodden on one another” This

problem of congestion in the Nigerian prisons is discovered to be the major cause of some

killer diseases, such as air born infections. The deplorable health conditions have led to

infectious diseases, such as skin scabies and bilharzias as reported in Agodi prison in 1987

(Ifionu et al. 1987). To worsen the situation, there are no standard hospitals, drugs and

qualified medical personnel to take care of the sick inmates (Ishaka and Akpovwa 1986;

Igbeare 1987). Even when there is a need to take a sick inmate out of the prison yard for

treatment in a hospital, there are no motor vehicles to do that. The apparent out- come of

this situation without standard health facilities in the prisons can be imagined from the

point of view of what happens to a sick inmate in coma or critical emergency condition

that requires urgent medical attention which is neither readily available nor accessible.

With the above problems in Nigeria prisons, it may be difficult for Nigerian society to

have prisoners rehabilitated for better lives.

54
 CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Demographic characteristics of respondents

In this chapter, the data collated from the respondents of Medium Security Prison,

Makurdi were presented with the aid of tables and percentages for the analysis. The respondents

were grouped into two categories of inmates: convicts and awaiting trial inmates.

Table 4.1 Distribution of Questionnaires

Questionnaire was distributed to them as below

Inmates categories No distributed. No returned % Returned

Awaiting trial 300 300 75
Convicts 100 100 25
Total 400 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Number of questionnaire distributed and returned.

Table 4.1 indicates that 400 questionnaires were distributed to respondents.100 respondents,

representing 25% were distributed among convicted inmates and they were successfully

returned. 300 questionnaire representing 75% of the sample size were distributed to inmates

awaiting trial. Thus, the total of 400 questionnaires were distributed and returned. Therefore,

completed and returned questionnaires were used for the analysis and evaluation of the Impact of

the Rehabilitation of Inmates of Makurdi Medium Security Prison in Benue State.

55
Section A
Table 4.2 Age Range of the Respondents
Options No Returned % Returned
18-25 239 59.75
26-35 96 24
36-45 40 10
46 and above 25 6.25
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.2 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 239 respondents,

representing 59.75% were between the age 18-25, 96 respondents, representing 24% were

between the ages 26-35, 40 respondents, representing 10% are between the ages 36-45, while 25

respondents, representing 6.25% are from the ages 46 and above.

Table 4.3 Sex Distribution of Respondents

Options. No returned % Returned

Male 383 95.75
Female 17 4.25
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.3 shows that out 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 383 respondents, representing, 95.75%

are males while 17 respondents, representing 4.25% were females.

Table 4.4 Respondents Marital Status

Options. No returned % Returned

Single 298 74.5
Married 99 24.75
Divorced 0 0
Widow/widower 3 0.75

56
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.4 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 298 respondents, representing
74.5% are single, 99 respondents, representing 24.75% are married, none are divorced, while 3
respondents, representing 0,75% are widows.
Table 4.5 Educational Qualification of Respondents

Options. No returned % Returned

Primary Education 59 14.75
Secondary Education 297 74.25
Tertiary Institution 20 5
Informal Education 25 6.25
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.5 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 59 respondents, representing
14.75% are educated at the primary level, 297 respondents, representing 74.25% are educated at the
secondary level, 20 respondents representing 5% are educated at the tertiary level while 25
respondents, representing 6.25% are have informal education.

Table 4.6 Religious Affiliation of Respondents

Options. No returned % Returned

Christianity 258 64.5
Islam 108 27
Traditional Worshiper 6 1.5
Others 28 7
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.6 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 258 respondents,

representing 64.5% are Christians, 108 respondents, representing 27% are Muslims, 6

respondents, representing 1.5% are traditional worshipper, while 28 respondents, representing

7% practice other religion.

57
Section B
4.2 Data Presentation and Analysis
Question 1: How long have you been in this prison?
Table 4.7 Response to question 1

Options. No returned % Returned

Less than 1 month 183 45.75
1 – 6 months 117 29.25
7 – 12 months 17 4.25
13 – 24 months 28 7
More than 2 years 55 13.75
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.7 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 183 respondents,

representing 45.75% are less than one month in prison. 117 respondents, representing 29.25% are

1- 6 months in prison, 17 respondents which represent 4.25% are 7 - 12 months, 28 respondents

are 13 – 24 months in prison while 55 respondents are over two years in prison.

Question 2: Is this your first time in prison?

Table 4.8 Response to question 2

Options. No returned % Returned

Yes 359 89.75
No 41 10.25
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.8 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 359 respondents,

representing 89.75% is their first time in prison while 41 respondents, representing 10.25 % is

not their first time in prison.

Question 3: How many times have you been in prison before?

Table 4.9 Response to question 3

58
Options. No returned % Returned
Once before 14 3.5
2– 5 times before 27 6.75
None except now 359 89.75
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.9 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 359 respondents,

representing 89.75% have not in prison, 14 respondents, representing 3.5 % have been in prison

once before while 27 respondents, representing 6.75% have been in prison 2-5 times before.

Question 4: What is your current status?

Table 4.10 Response to question 4.

Options. No returned % Returned
Remand/untried 305 76.25
Convicted but not yet sentenced 66 16.5
Sentenced 29 7.25
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018
Table 4.10 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 305 respondents,

representing 76.25% are untried or still in remand, 66 respondents, representing 16.5% have

been convicted but not yet sentenced, while 29 respondents, representing 7.25% have been

sentenced.

Question 5: How soon do you expect to be released?

Table 4.11 Response to question 5.

Options. No returned % Returned

Less than 1 month 7 1.75
1 month but less than 3 months 74 18.75
3 months but less than 6 months 18 4.5
6 months or more 301 75.25
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 11 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 7 respondents, representing

1.75% have less than one month in the prison, 74 respondents, representing 18.75% have less
59
than three months, 18 respondents, representing 4.5% have less than six months while 301

respondents, representing 75.25% have more than six months in prison.

Question 6: What is your main daytime activity?

Table 4.12 Response to question 6.

Options. No returned % Returned

Education only 12 3
Education & Work 24 6
Work only 55 13.75
Induction course 223 55.75
Offending Behaviour 46 11.5
Programme
Drug Rehab course 40 10
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.12 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 12 respondents,

representing 3% have education as main daytime activity. 24 respondents, representing 6% have

education and work as day time activity, 55 respondents, representing 13.75% have work only as

day time activity, 223 respondents, representing 55.75% have induction course as day time

activity, 46 respondents, representing 11.5% have offending behavior programme as day time

activity, while 40 respondents, representing 10% have drug rehab course as daytime activity.

Question 7: If your main daytime activity is work or education, then please select which
type below?

Table 4.13 Response to question 7.

Options. No returned % Returned

Work in the prison 68 17
voluntary/ community work 38 9.5
outside the prison on license
paid outside employment 17 4.25
Education in the prison 243 60.75
visiting an establishment 34 8.5
outside the prison on license
60
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 13 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 68 respondents, representing

17% work in the prison, 38 representing 9.5% carry out voluntary/community work outside the

prison on license, seventeen 17 respondents, representing 4.25% have paid employment outside

the prison, 243 respondents, representing 60.75% have education in the prison, while 34

respondents, representing 8.5% are visiting an establishment outside the prison on license.

Question 8: Do you usually spend most of the daytime period (that is 6 or more hours a day
between 9 a.m. – 6 p.m, Monday-Friday) in your cell?

Table 4.14 Response to question 8.

Options. No returned % Returned
Yes 16 4
No 384 96
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.14 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 16 respondents,

representing 4% usually spend most of the daytime period (that is 6 or more hours a day between

9am -6pm Monday – Friday in the cell. While 384 respondents, representing 96% usually don’t

spend most of the daytime period (that is 6 or more hours a day between 9am -6pm Monday –

Friday in the cell.

Question 9: Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 = lowest and 10 = highest), put a circle

around the number you think this prison deserves in terms of the quality of life of the

prisoners (where quality refers to your general treatment):

Table 4.15 Response to question 9

Options. No returned % Returned

1 289 72.25
2 70 17.5
3 11 2.75
4 30 7.5
5 0 0
61
6 0 0
7 0 0
8 0 0
9 0 0
10 0 0
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018
Table 4.15 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 289 respondents,

representing 72.25% scored the quality of life in terms of treatment generally as the lowest which

is 1. 70 respondents, representing 17.5% scored the quality of life in terms of treatment generally

as 2 in scale.11 respondents, representing 2. 75% scored the quality of life in terms of treatment

generally as 3. 30 respondents, representing 7.75% scored the quality of life in terms of treatment

generally as 4, while there was none from 5 on scale down to number 10 which is the highest

number on the scale.

Question 10: Is the structure in Medium Security Prison Makurdi enough to accommodate
inmates?

Table 4.16 Response to question 10

Options. No returned % Returned

Yes 79 19.75
No 321 80.25
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.16 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 321 respondents,

representing 80.25% did not agree that the structure in Medium Security Prison Makurdi is

enough to accommodate inmates while 79 respondents representing 19.75% agrees that the

structure in Medium Security Prison Makurdi is enough to accommodate inmates.

Question 11: Is Medium Security Prison Makurdi congested?

Table 4.17 Response to question 11.

Options. No returned % Returned

62
Yes 389 97.25
No 11 2.75
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.17 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 389 respondents,

representing 97.25% agrees that Medium Security Prison Makurdi is congested while 11

respondents representing 2.75% do no agree that Medium Security Prison Makurdi is congested.

Question 12: What trade or skill have you acquired in this prison?

Table 4.18 Response to question 12.

Options. No returned % Returned

Carpentry 38 9.5
Tailoring 198 49.5
Shoe making 56 14
Hair dressing 79 19.75
Bead/bag making 29 7.25
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.18 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 38 respondents

representing 9.5% participate in carpentry, 198 respondents representing 49.5% are into tailoring,

56 respondents, representing 14% are into shoe making, 79 respondents, representing 19.75% are

into hair dressing, 29 respondents, representing 7.25% are into bead/bag making.

Question 13: Do you think you are ready to face life as a reformed person if released now?

Table 4.19 Response to question 13

Options. No returned % Returned

Yes 312 78
No 88 22
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.19 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 312 respondents,

representing 78% think that they are ready to face life as reformed person if released that

63
moment, while 88 respondents, representing 22% think that they are not ready to face life as

reformed person if released from that moment.

Question 14: Do you think the prison is helpful to inmates?

Table 4.20 Response to question 14

Options. No returned % Returned

No 159 39.75
Yes 241 53.5
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.20 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 159 respondents,

representing 39.75% think that the prison is not helpful to inmates, while 241 respondents,

representing 53.5% think that the prison is helpful to inmates.

Question 15: Overall, i am treated fairly by staff in this prison.

Table 4.21 Response to question 15

Options. No returned % Returned

Strongly agree 110 27.5
Agree 126 31.5
Disagree 79 19.75
Strongly disagree 85 21.25
Total 400 100%
Source: Field Survey 2018

Table 4.21 shows that out of 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 110 respondents,

representing 27.5% strongly agree that they are treated fairly by prison staff in the prison, 126

respondents, representing 31.5% agree that they are treated fairly by prison staff in the prison,

79 respondents, representing 19.75% , disagree that they are treated fairly by prison staff in the

prison, while 85 respondents, representing 21.25% strongly disagree that they are treated fairly

by prison staff in the prison.

64
4.2.1 Analysis of respondent’s responses on research question “An Appraisal of the

Impact of Reformation and Rehabilitation of Inmates at the Medium Security Prison,

Makurdi, 1992-2017.”

The study investigated the impact of rehabilitation of inmates in makurdi medium

security prison. 400 respondents were used in the analysis, the findings showed that

rehabilitation programmes exist in prison and they include carpentry, adult literacy, arts/crafts,

tailoring and hairdressing These findings are in agreement with the observation by Inciardi

(2009) that prison programmes include a variety of activities, all of which can have an impact

either directly or indirectly on the rehabilitation of inmates and their successful reintegration into

the community after release. The study also showed that as long as an inmate is in the prison,

he/she undergoes rehabilitation. However, the study revealed that the rehabilitation programmes

have been fairly successful. The major obstacle to rehabilitation was identified as lack of

fund/inadequate funding. The finding is in agreement with Prison Annual Report (2001/ 2002)

which indicated that inadequate funding was a major constraint which hampers both

rehabilitation and after care of prisoners.

Furthermore, more than half of the respondents accepted that rehabilitation progrmmes

have impacted positively in their lives by teaching them skills which they will utilize on release.

It is instructive to note that the condition which makurdi prisoners face is deplorable. That is in

terms of inadequacy of buildings, poor sanitary conditions, problems of overcrowding,

inadequate medical facilities, poor feeding, water shortage etc. this implies that prison in Nigeria

particularly Makurdi prison if not improved on it, cannot meet the target and its objective of

existence as a reformative and rehabilitative institution for inmates.

65
 CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary

The study was necessitated by the surging demand to improve the standard of life of

inmates in Nigerian prisons and since this tendency confers on the increase in crime rate in

Nigerian prison, the researcher is interested in finding out the impact of rehabilitation of inmates

66
of Makurdi Medium Security Prison as a case study. The Medium Security Prisons was

established with the main objectives of rehabilitation and reformation of offenders who have

been sentenced to serve various lengths of sentences in the penal institutions. In order to achieve

this objective, they engage the inmates in various rehabilitation programmes aimed at equipping

them with adequate skills to become self-reliant, useful to the community and avoid reoffending

once through with their jail terms. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact these

rehabilitation programmes have on the inmates, once they exit this prison facility.

The study was carried out in Makurdi, Benue State. The study had five objectives which

include to examine the extent to which the Makurdi Medium Security prison has rehabilitated

and reformed its inmates between 1992-2017, to ascertain the types of reformation and

rehabilitation services or programmes inmates prefer, to ascertain the condition of the inmates so

far rehabilitated and reformed by Makurdi Medium Security Prison, to determine the main

constraints bedeviling the Makurdi Medium security Prison from carrying out its statutory

functions, to find out possible solutions to the challenges and all these objectives are designed to

solve the statement of the research problem which is meant to look into the aspect of the analysis

of the activities, challenges and prospects of inmates of Makurdi Medium Security Prison as a

correctional institution. There is every need to carry out the analysis of its activities as a

correctional institution to bring to the fore if the aim of establishing this agency of government is

being achieved or not in order to understand the prison rehabilitation process and programmes

offered to the inmates.

The study adopted rehabilitation theory as its theoretical framework. A central notion

behind this form of rehabilitation is that prisoners will be equipped with skills upon release that

will allow them to earn competitive salaries and avoid criminal activity in the future.

67
 The study targeted 1,355 inmates from which it drew a sample of 400 of both gender

using Taro Yamane 1964 method. Survey design was used for the study and data collection

instrument used was questionnaire which was administered by research assistants who helped the

respondents fill the same. The study investigated the impact of rehabilitation of inmates in prison

with reference to Makurdi Medium security prison. In the analysis, the findings showed that

rehabilitation programmes exist in prison and they include carpentry, adult literacy, arts/crafts,

tailoring and hairdressing. These findings are in agreement with the observation by Inciardi

(2009) that prison programmes include a variety of activities, all of which can have an impact

either directly or indirectly on the rehabilitation of offenders and their successful reintegration

into the community after release. The study also showed that as long as an inmate is in the

prison, he/she undergoes rehabilitation. However, the study revealed that the rehabilitation

programmes have been fairly successful.

5.2 Conclusions

The following conclusions were drawn: reformative and rehabilitative function of prison

is necessary for the survival of prisoners and society at large. However, since prison system is a

smaller society within the larger society, what transpires in the prison definitely affects the larger

society.

Negligence in the provision and maintenance of rehabilitation facilities affected the

prison as an institution in carrying out their statutory function. This is evident in the findings

where respondents indicated that prisons properly interpret the penal policy but the quality of

facilities on ground cannot assure one of effective rehabilitation of convicts.

More pressing is the obvious lack of after care services. It is inferred that there are

factors militating against successful rehabilitation and if not on the increase except correctional

68
measures are taken to address the issue of misinterpretation of penal policy, quality of vocational

training programmes, unemployment, poverty, public stigmatization, after care services among

others.

If these necessities are not revived, prisoners will re-socialize into more dangerous

criminals and may come out worse than ever. Finally, there is an urgent need for a practical

review of Nigeria’s penal policy. This is expedient because the findings of this study have further

demonstrated clearly, the incompatibility of retribution and rehabilitation.

5.3 Recommendations

Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made:

1.The controller general of Prison Service should ensure that the prison conditions are

conducive for proper and full implementation of the rehabilitation programmes for

inmates, more learning facilities should be provided and even more well trained

professionals to train the inmates. This will ensure that the programmes provided to the

inmates are better learned and understood and making them more skilled and employable.

Easing of the facilities will also reduce congestion as the rate of absorption of the ex-

convicts in the job market will be high.

2.Proper rehabilitation programmes in formal education, vocational training and aftercare

support should be professionally done to enhance self-sustainability of ex-convicts. The

programmes must also be modern, provide practical exposure, be market focused and

need based so that the ex-convicts can easily be absorbed into the job market and also be

able to set up their own enterprises for their self-sustainability.

3.The prison service should also embrace ICT since this is the way to go and this is a sure

way of self-employment for the ex-convicts.

69
 4.The prison authorities should provide earning schemes to inmates to enhance their

effective reintegration and rehabilitation into the society.

5.The prison should be adequately funded to acquire state of the arts equipment to

enhance effective rehabilitation of inmates.

6.Social workers should create awareness on the need for every convicted inmate to be

involved in one rehabilitation programme or the other.

7.Formal education programmes in prisons should be carried out to the highest level and

should be made mandatory to those inmates who have never been to school or have

dropped out at primary or secondary school so that they will in the long ran enhance

acceptability back into their communities and self or formal employability of the ex-

convicts.

8.Rehabilitation programmes should not be left in the hands of prison officials alone.

Social workers, NGOs among others should be fully involved in rehabilitation of inmates.

9.Staff needs to be properly selected, trained, supervised and resourced to deliver the

highest-quality rehabilitation services to the most complex and challenging people.

10.Rehabilitation services should include: Awareness Programmes, Counselling Services,

Information Communication Technology, Correctional Education, and Skills Acquisition

Programmes among others. Moreover, schools should be established within the prisons,

quality prison educational programmes should be incorporated to improve the educational

qualification of the prison inmates so as to secure jobs after discharge. In the same vein,

vocational programmes such as welding, auto mechanics, photography, hairdressing,

cosmetology, and printing should be implemented rather than training inmates toward

traditional blue collar employment.

70
 11.Since the study revealed that prison inmates preferred one recreational activity to other

rehabilitation services, there is urgent need by the federal government to provide for more

functional recreational facilities and services.

REFERENCES

Achebe, C. (1983). The Trouble with Nigeria. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publishers Ltd.

Adamolekun, L. (1986). Politics and Administration in Nigeria. London: Hutchinson.

Adetula, V. et al, (2010). Assessing Democracy Assistance. Nigerian Project Report Prepared
for United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).

Adeyemo, O. and Osunyikanmi, O. (2011) “Political Influence on Bureaucratic Growth and

Social Responsiveness: A Case of Ondo State” Nigeria. Journal of Department of Local
Government Studies, Vol. 1 No 6 Faculty Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile,
Ife, Nigeria.

71
Agomoh, U. (1996). Decongesting the Nigerian Prisons and the Police Cells: A Handbook of
Practical Strategies for Remand Population. Lagos: PRAWA.

Aiyedogbo, J. (1988). Nigerian Prisons: A Sociological Study. Sokoto Prison as a Case Study.
B.Sc Project, Unpublished. Sokoto: Department of Sociology, University of Sokoto.

Amnesty International (2008). Nigeria: Prisoners’ Rights Systematically Flouted. London:

Amnesty International AI Index: AFR 44/001/2008.

Anazodo, R. Okoye, J. &Chukwuemeka, E. (2012) “Civil service reforms in Nigeria: The

Journey so far in Service Delivery.” American Journal of Social and Management
Sciences, ISSN Print. www.scihub.org/AJSMS.

Awolowo, O (1985). Adventure in Power: My March through Prison. Ibadan: Macmillian

Publishers.

Dambazau, A.B. (1994). Law and Criminality in Nigeria. Ibadan: University Press.

Dambazau, A.B. (2007) Criminology and Criminal Justice 2nd Edition. Ibadan: University Press.

Dambazzau, 2007. [18] National Daily Newspaper, 25 January 2013 Weekly Trust, 4-10 March
2006,

Eme, O. (2010) Bureaucracy and Challenges of Good Governance in Nigeria. Journal of

Business and Organizational Development Vol., 2.

Eme, O. and Ugwu, S. (2011) Developmental State Bureaucracy in Nigeria: Restructuring for
Effectiveness (1999-2007) Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review (OMAN
Chapter) Vol. 1.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime.

Gbenga, L. and Ariyo, T. (2006) Bureaucratic Corruption, Good Governance and Development:
The Challenges and Prospects of Institution Building in Nigeria. Journal of Applied
Sciences Research, 2(10): INSInet Publication.

Gboyega, A. (2003) “Democracy and Development: The Imperative of Local Governance.” An

Inaugural Lecture, 2003, University of Ibadan.

Gendreau, P. (1999). The Effects of Prison Sentences on Recidivism. User Report: 1999-3.
Corrections Research, Department of the Solicitor General Canada. Ottawa: Public Works
and Government Services Canada.

Goffman, E. (1961). Asylums. New York: Garden City Anchor Books.

Howard, D. (1960). The English Prisons: Their Past and their Future. London: Butler and
Tarmer Ltd.
72
htt://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/E XTPOVERTY.

Ifionu, O. (1987). Hell on Earth: Our Prisons and Dreaded Chambers. African Concord, 147: 14-
21, June 1987.

Igbeare, F. (1987). Prison Stories: Inmates Experience. African Concord, 147:18, June, 1987.

Ishaka, P. (1986). Not a Prisoner Heaven. Newswatch, 4: 26. December 29, 1986.

Laski, H. (1931) “Bureaucracy” Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, E.R.A. Seligman (ed.)
London: Macmillan.

Mathews, R. (1993). Squaring Up to Crime. Sociology Review, Vol. 2. No. 3

Meek, C.K. (1969). The Northern Tribes of Nigeria: An Ethnographical Account of the Northern
Provinces of Nigeria together with a Report on the 1921 Decennial Census. London:
Oxford University Press.

Merton, R. K. (1949). Social theory and Social Structure. New York: Free Press

Ndue, P. (2005) Democratization, Good Governance and Administrative Reform in Africa. A

Paper Presented at 26th African Association for Public Administration and Management
(AAPAM) Annual Roundtable Conference, Mombasa, Kenya.

New Nigeria (2006). Prison reform: Panel’s recommendations will be implemented – Obasanjo.
New Nigerian, 15 November 2006.

Obioha, E.E. (1995), Prison Culture in Nigeria; A Study of Life Within Agodi Prison Community,
Ibadan. M.Sc Dissertation, Unpublished. Ibadan: Department of Sociology, University of
Ibadan.

Obioha, E.E. (2002). Punishment in Society. In: UC IsiugoAbanihe, AN Isamah , O Adesina

‘Jimi (Eds.): Currents and Perspectives in Sociology. Lagos: Malthouse Press Limited, pp.
367-379.

Okafor, E. (2005) “Public Bureaucracy and Development in Nigeria: A Critical Overview of

Impediments to Public Service Delivery” CODESRIA Bulletin, Nos. 3-4.

Okotoni, O. (2001) “Problems and Prospects of Nigerian Bureaucracy” Journal of Social

Sciences, Vo. 7 No. 3 ObafemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Okunola, R. (1986). Institutional Treatment and Social Stigma: A Comparative Study of

Amanawa Leprosarium and Sokoto Prisons. Sokoto: F. S. S. A Research Publication,
University of Sokoto.

73
Olopade, Y. (1992). In Prison with Prisoners. The Nigerian Tribune, 14th December 1992, P. 12.

Oluwakuyide, A. (2001). Reforming our prisons. The Nigerian Tribune, 4th December 2001.

Onoge, O.O. (1988) Crime and Control in Nigeria: The Problem of Robbery in Ukwu.
Dimensions of Social Problems in Nigeria. Kuru: NIPSS.

Orakwe, I.W. (2005). Killing the Nigerian prisons through prosecutional ineptitude. The
Reformer, 2 (1): 45 – 48. Abuja: Nigerian Prisons Service.

Quinney, R. "Structural Characteristics, Population Areas, and Crime Rates in the United
States," The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police Science, 57(1), p. 45-52.

Scott, J. and Marshall, G. (2009) Oxford Dictionary of Sociology (3rd Edition.) Oxford: Oxford
University Press.

Scott, J, and Marshall, G (eds). (2009). Oxford Dictionary of Sociology. New York: Oxford
University Press.

Silver, H. (1994) Social Exclusion and Social Solidarity in International Labour Review,133 5-6.

This Day Newspaper (1999). Maintaining the Prisons. This Day, 1 July, 1999, P. 11.

Yongo, P.P.(2000). Prisons Await Obasanjo’s Attention. The Punch, 21 November, 2000, P. 33.

APPENDIX I

National Open University of Nigeria

Faculty of Social Sciences,

Makurdi Study Centre, Kanshio,

Benue State.

23rd April,2018.

74
 Dear respondent,

I am a final year student of Criminology and security studies at the above institution

currently undertaking a research on “An Appraisal of the Impact of Reformation and

Rehabilitation of Inmates at the Medium Security Prison, Makurdi, 1992-2017.” in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the award for A Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology

and Security Studies

I hereby wish to solicit your kindness to complete the attached questionnaires. Your

response will strictly be used for the purpose of this study with utmost confidentiality. The

questionnaire is anonymous and therefore no names should be written on it. Participation in the

survey is voluntary.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Ocheme Samuel
(NOU143479340)
08038133657

APPENDIX II

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF RESPONDENTS

Questionnaire
Section: A
Instruction: please tick and fill where appropriate
1. Age: 18-25( ), 26-35 ( ) 36-45( ), 46 and above ( )
2. Sex: Male ( ) Female ( )

75
3. Marital status: Single ( ), Married ( ), Divorced ( ),Widow/widower
4. Educational achievement Primary Edu ( ) Secondary Edu ( ) Tertiary Institution ( ) informal Edu ( ).
5. Religion: Christianity ( ) Islam ( ), Traditional Worshiper ( ) others ( )
Section B
Instruction: please tick and fill where appropriate
1.How long have you been in this prison? Less than 1 month □

1 – 6 months □

7 – 12 months □
13 – 24 months □
More than 2 years □
2.Is this your first time in prison?
Yes □

No □

3.How many times have you been in prison before?

Please only answer this question if you have been in prison before

Once before □

2 – 5 times before □

None except now □

4.What is your current status?

Remand/untried □

Convicted but not yet sentenced □

Sentenced □

5.How soon do you expect to be released?

Please only answer this question if you are sentenced.

Less than 1 month □

1 month but less than 3 months □

3 months but less than 6 months □

6 months or more □

76
6.What is your main daytime activity?
Education only □

Education & Work □

Work only □

Induction course □

Offending Behaviour Programme □

Drug Rehab course □

Other □

If you ticked ‘Other’: please state your main daytime activity………………………

7.If your main daytime activity is work or education, then please select which type below?

Work ………..in the prison……………...………………………….............□

”…………...voluntary/ community work outside the prison on license.....□

” …………..paid outside employment……………………………………□

Education …...in the prison…………………………………………………□

”………….. visiting an establishment outside the prison on license ……□

8.Do you usually spend most of the daytime period (that is 6 or more hours a day between 9 a.m.
– 6 p.m., Monday-Friday) in your cell?
Yes □

No □

9.Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 = lowest and 10 = highest), put a circle around

the number you think this prison deserves in terms of the quality of life of the prisoners
(where quality refers to your general treatment):

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10. Is the structure in Medium Security Prison Makurdi enough to accommodate inmates?

Yes □

No □

11. Is Medium Security Prison Makurdi congested?

77
 Yes □

No □

12. What trade or skill have you acquired in this prison?

Carpentry □

Tailoring □

Shoe making □

Hair dressing □

Bead/bag making □

13.Do you think you are ready to face life as a reformed person if released now?
Yes □

No □

14.Do you think the prison is helpful to inmates?

Yes □

No □

15.Overall, i am treated fairly by staff in this prison.

(a)Strongly agree (b) Agree (c)Disagree (d) Strongly disagree

IF YOU WISH TO MAKE ANY OTHER COMMENTS PLEASE USE THE SPACE
BELOW

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thank you for taking part in the survey

78
79