Torture centres: Senator Uba Sani moves motion to regulate correctional facilities

Torture centres: Senator Uba Sani moves motion to regulate correctional facilities

- Senate has adopted motion to stop illegal correctional centers in Nigeria

- The motion was moved by Senator Uba Sani who represents Kaduna central at the Senate

- Illegal correctional centres were recently discovered in Kaduna, Kwara and Oyo states

The Nigerian Senate has adopted a motion to stop unauthorised rehabilitation centres where people are subjected to inhumane torture in some states across the country.

Legit.ng's regional reporter in Kaduna, Nasir Dambatta, reports that the motion titled, urgent need to address the prevalence of modern slavery in Nigeria, was moved by the lawmaker representing Kaduna central, Malam Uba Sani, at the plenary on Wednesday, November 6.

Senator Sani said that the plenary took a hard look at the existence of slave camps in the guise of correctional centers in Nigeria and resolved to collaborate with relevant government agencies to root them out in the interest of the nation's children and collective dignity.

The lawmaker pointed out that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) states that 43% of Nigerian children between the ages of 5 and 17 years are engaged in child or forced labour, adding that about 1,384,000 people are enslaved in Nigeria.

He said the number is more than the total number of all the other 16 West African countries which stands at 1,081,000 according to Global Slavery Index (GSI) 2018.

The Senate resolved among other prayers, to urge the newly formed ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other relevant federal agencies to intensify surveillance, embark on awareness creation with special focus on land, sea and air borders as a step towards curbing the prevalence of modern slavery.

The Senate also resolved to direct the federal ministry of health to, as matter of urgency, provide medical support and all other support as may be necessary to the victims; and to urge the NAPTIP to set-up state task forces to fight against modern slavery and child trafficking in Kaduna state and replicate this across the whole country;

The Inspector General of Police was also directed to ensure that the Nigeria police force strictly adheres to the global best practices by discouraging media parade of victims of modern slavery so as to avoid stigmatization and violation of fundamental human rights of the victims.

The Senate also resolved to increase budgetary allocation for the management of National NAPTIP to aid the agency in preventing and eliminating modern slavery in Nigeria.

Recalling on how police busted a so-called rehabilitation centre in Kaduna where over 300 persons, including 77 children were found chained, Senator Uba Sani said: "They were all emaciated, having gone through harrowing experiences in the hands of their handlers.

"The centers are sad reminders of the inglorious days of slavery. They are the height of man's inhumanity to man."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Senator Sani called for total closure of illegal correctional centres across the country.

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Source: Legit.ng

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