Shops around Afokang prison harbouring ex-convicts – Cross River community tells NCS

The Nigerian Correctional Service facility in the Afokang area of Calabar South LGA is reported to be harbouring suspected criminals in their shops and other properties. As a result, the residents have asked the federal government to relocate it to a less populated area.

They have also accused the Service of overlooking other suspected criminals who reside in the vicinity of the facility.

Speaking on behalf of the community, the Clan Head of Efut Akani Esuk in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Muri Eyo Effiong Okon V, alleged that the facility is no longer of benefit to his community or adding value, but is rather contributing to the crime wave.

“Their officials are not relating to our community, nor are they securing it nor aligning with our aspirations. They’ve fenced round their facility, leaving us prone to their ex-convicts and other persons with questionable characters in their properties, including shops and residential apartments built on their lands.

“They’re harbouring ex-convicts who are unable to trace where they hailed from after their release from the prison. These people have continued to perpetrate their crimes from the NCS facility. NCS should be held accountable for the ex-convicts hovering around their properties.

The monarch also alleged that NCS are giving out their undeveloped lands to persons without identity to the detriment of the community.

“They ought to build schools and hospitals in those portions of land to benefit the community.”

He emphatically called for the relocation of the facility to a less populated area, disclosing that when it was built, the Afokang neighbourhood was a thick bush.

In his reaction, the PRO of the Service in the state, Effanga Etim, said, “The comptroller of the Service in Cross River State, Aniekan Nyah, has constituted a five-man committee to investigate the allegations.

“It’s not true that we’ve blocked the access road of the Afokang community. The road in question is very accessible. We only blocked access into our yard, so that hoodlums don’t access our prison walls.”

Etim also denied that they harbour ex-convicts, adding “But let’s wait for the outcome of the five-man committee report.”