The Federal Government has entered into a partnership with both local and international organisations to address violent extremism within correctional facilities across the country.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening national security and enhancing ongoing deradicalisation programmes within the correctional system.
It also seeks to ensure that custodial centres are not exploited as recruitment grounds or coordination points by extremist groups.
The Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, disclosed this at a workshop held in collaboration with Canada and the Global Centre on Cooperative Security (GCCS), focused on countering violent extremism in Nigeria’s custodial institutions.
He explained that correctional facilities play a critical role in national security but could become vulnerable spaces for radicalisation if not properly managed.
Laka stressed that through improved training, intelligence sharing, and community engagement, prisons can be transformed into centres of rehabilitation, reform, and reintegration.
He added that the collaboration with Canada and the GCCS highlights the importance of international cooperation in tackling terrorism and extremist ideologies.
According to him, the programme will provide relevant government agencies with tools to identify, prevent, and respond to extremist influence within correctional centres.
A senior fellow at the GCCS, Saeida Rouass, said the organisation offers technical support and training aimed at preventing violent extremism in correctional systems.
She noted that similar support has been provided to countries such as Morocco, Kenya, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago in managing and rehabilitating offenders linked to terrorism.
The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi, said the service has continued to adapt to evolving security threats, including the management of inmates connected to extremist activities.
Represented by DCC Jammal Bakare, he stated that a deradicalisation programme introduced in 2016 remains central to rehabilitation efforts within custodial centres.
He emphasized that correctional facilities can either reduce extremist influence or worsen it, depending on how effectively rehabilitation strategies are implemented.
