blames incessant crime on poor treatment of inmates
By Mary Agidi
The Ondo State Chairman of the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Kehinde Oluwaseyi, has raised the alarm over the increasing rate of recidivism in Nigeria, describing the nation’s correctional facilities as breeding grounds for hardened criminals rather than centres of reform.
Speaking during an interview session with Weekend Hope, Pastor Oluwaseyi lamented that petty offenders often end up being initiated into crime syndicates while in prison owing to poor rehabilitation and lack of segregation between first-time and hardened offenders.
According to him, many inmates leave the correctional centres worse than they entered, as the system fails to provide meaningful rehabilitation and vocational training to prepare them for reintegration into society.
Oluwaseyi said, “Recidivism is rampant because prisons have become training grounds for crime. Petty thieves are often beaten and initiated into criminal groups. When they are released, they return to society more hardened.”
He decried that most inmates leave prison without learning any profitable trade, while the few available vocational tools are grossly inadequate.
“At Olokuta Correctional Centre and others we have visited, there are only about six sewing machines and one cobbler,” he added.
The PFN chairman warned that neglecting the reintegration and rehabilitation of ex-inmates could have dire social and economic consequences, as many of them, rejected by their families and communities, end up returning to crime out of frustration.
“If they are neglected, the entire society will be in trouble. Many hardened criminals recruit petty offenders in prison. When such people are released without proper reintegration, crime increases,” he cautioned.
The cleric emphasised that the Prison Fellowship has been playing a key role in filling the rehabilitation gap through reconciliation, reintegration and skill development programmes for inmates.
He stated, “Rehabilitation in Nigeria is very poor. The government should give take-off grant or assistance to ex-inmates. PFN uses its own resources to feed, clothe and accommodate them. We even monitor their families and ensure they are reintegrated into churches.
He appealed for collaboration between the government, religious bodies and private individuals to tackle the challenges facing prison rehabilitation in Nigeria, urging well-meaning citizens to emulate philanthropists who have shown compassion to inmates.
“Crime affects everyone. Those whom God has blessed should support rehabilitation. With proper reintegration, ex-inmates can become productive citizens and contribute to national development,” he said.