A’Ibom Govt Prayer Committee Gives Succour To Inmates Of NCS, Ikot Ekpene

By Enefiok Ndon

IKOT EKPENE

Inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ikot Ekpene,have benefitted from the benevolence of the Akwa Ibom State Monthly Prayer Meeting Committee.

The committee in its visit to the custodial centre presented cash, 15 mattresses, sewing machine, hair clippers, food items, beverages and toiletries for the upkeep of the prisoners.

The special assistant to the governor on religious affairs, Rev Daniel Akwatang who led the committee to the visit said the gesture was in continuation of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s commitment to touch lives of all manners of persons.

Akwatang accompanied by the chairman of the committee, Pastor Emmanuel Bassey , and members of the committee explained that the support was possible through offerings obtained during prayer meetings, with the support of the governor.

The governor’s aide stressed that the committee which prays for the government and the people of the state will continue putting the inmates in prayer for God to grant freedom to those who deserve same.

Receiving the team and the items, the Assistant Controller Correctional (ACC) heaped praises on the governor for remembering incarcerated citizens with essential needs to ease their difficulties while in custody.

Akpan noted the benevolence was timely and in line with the motto of the NCS,” Hope to the Hopeless,” adopted after the nomenclature of the service was change from the Nigeria Prisons Service to present name.

He added that the development gave them impetus to change the condition of the inmates from the usual torture to that of re-orientation such that on gaining freedom, they live useful life styles.

Akpan hinted that the custodial centre houses over one thousand inmates, including females, saying that one of them who came into custody with pregnancy was already putting to bed for delivery.

The affected female inmate, according to him, needs special care just as the centre was doing its best to ensure a safe delivery.

He particularly complained of inadequate water supply in the centre and requesting for the sinking of two additional bore holes for the males and females.

The ACC also hinted that inmates in the centre were facing trial in 19 courts of Law but laxk operational vehicles for conveyance and made a case for the more vehicles.

Akpan used the occasion to appeal to individuals, groups, organization and corporate bodies to emulate the good example of the prayer committee to give succour to the inmates.