A woman named Miss Ijeoma Franca was caught attempting to smuggle a substance suspected to be Indian hemp into the Medium Security Prisons in Kuje, Abuja. The contraband was concealed inside a carton of biscuits, which prison officers discovered during a routine search of visitors.
Humphery Chukwuedo, the spokesman for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Prison Command, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Wednesday. He explained that Franca claimed she was unaware of the true contents of the package.
“During the interrogation, she claimed that one Mr. Daniel had engaged her to take some package to his brother, Mr. Miracle Amechi, who is an inmate in Kuje prison,” Chukwuedo stated.
According to Franca, the package included a carton of spicy biscuits, rolls of milk, Milo, shirts, and a sum of ₦2,500, which she believed to be legitimate items.
After the discovery, the prison authorities promptly handed Franca over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and potential prosecution. Chukwuedo emphasized that the actions taken by the prison officers reflect the institution’s commitment to maintaining security and order within the prison environment.
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In response to the incident, the Controller of Prisons, FCT Command, Sylvester Nwakuche, issued a stern warning to visitors, urging them to refrain from attempting to smuggle illicit substances into the prison. He highlighted the harmful impact that drugs can have on inmates, stressing that such substances undermine the reformation and rehabilitation processes.
“The use of hard drugs not only compromises the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners but also has a debilitating effect on their health,” Nwakuche warned.
He further called on the public to support the ongoing efforts of the prison authorities under the leadership of the Controller-General of Prisons, Ahmed Jafaru. Nwakuche noted that these efforts aim to ensure that the goals of imprisonment—rehabilitation and the safe reintegration of inmates into society—are achieved.
“We urge the public to support the doggedness of the prison authorities in ensuring a safe and sound society,” he added.