Two awaiting-trial inmates at the Uyo Custodial Centre, Akwa Ibom State, have died after a transformer explosion near the facility caused a high-voltage wire to snap and fall on a section of the prison. Two other inmates were also injured in the incident.
The tragic event, which occurred about two weeks ago, threw the entire facility into darkness and destroyed several electrical appliances, including computers and household items belonging to correctional officers.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom State Controller of Corrections, Frank Okonkwo, described the explosion as “unfortunate and devastating,” noting that it claimed the lives of two inmates who were still awaiting trial.
“It was very unfortunate because the explosion caused a lot of damage both to our facility and to the families of the deceased,” Okonkwo said. “Officials of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) came and confirmed that the explosion was caused by excessive voltage.”
According to him, the inmates were sitting in their cell when the surge hit, throwing them up from their positions. They were immediately rushed to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) by the prison’s medical team but were confirmed dead on arrival.
Okonkwo disclosed that the deceased inmates were facing charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and armed robbery, but were presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.
“It was a big loss, especially because they were only awaiting trial,” he lamented. “One was being tried for conspiracy and kidnapping, while the other faced armed robbery charges.”
The controller added that the families of the deceased had been contacted, and one had already begun the process of retrieving the body. However, he stressed that the corpses would only be released after ongoing investigations are concluded.
He further revealed that the same transformer had developed faults a few years earlier, urging the relevant authorities to intervene urgently to prevent future tragedies.
“We call on government agencies and the electricity company to fix this problem once and for all. It’s not the first time the transformer has malfunctioned,” he said.
Okonkwo also noted that the power surge destroyed all electrical appliances at the facility, including those in the officers’ quarters and the residence of the officer in charge of the custodial centre.
Meanwhile, the Controller disclosed that the Correctional Service in the state was planning a rehabilitation and empowerment programme for 30 inmates who had completed vocational training and were due for release soon.
“We are relying on support from donors and partner organisations to empower those who have learnt trades such as tailoring, carpentry, welding, and barbing,” he said.
“The idea is to help them reintegrate successfully into society and prevent them from returning to crime.”
The Uyo Custodial Centre, a medium-security facility under the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), has long struggled with infrastructure decay, erratic power supply, and overcrowding — challenges that continue to test the safety and welfare of both inmates and staff.
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