Mental health professionals have raised serious concerns about the treatment of mentally ill inmates in Nigerian correctional facilities, warning that inadequate services and inhumane practices are exacerbating conditions and constituting torture.
Speaking at the second public hearing on alleged corruption and violations within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Abuja on Tuesday, experts called for immediate reforms to address these critical issues.
President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Professor Taiwo Obindo, stated the urgent need for mental health professionals across the nation’s custodial facilities. “Nigeria’s correctional centres require psychiatrists, therapists, and social workers to address the plight of mentally ill inmates and break the cycle of torture and abuse,” he stated.
Obindo highlighted that delaying hospital treatment for mentally ill inmates until their condition becomes critical represents negligence by correctional officers. He specifically condemned practices such as chaining inmates to beds for extended periods.
“Someone will just come and chain them to the bed for days, leaving them to eat, urinate, and do other things in the same place. This should not happen,” Obindo said, adding that the isolation of mentally ill inmates is another common form of abuse in correctional centres.
The psychiatrist identified two major obstacles to effective treatment: the absence of a forensic hospital in Nigeria and insufficient funding for inmates’ mental healthcare. “Consequently, relatives of inmates often bear the financial burden, including out-of-pocket expenses and fuel costs for correctional vehicles to transport inmates to hospitals,” he explained.
Obindo argued that the shortage of carers for mentally ill inmates itself constitutes a form of abuse and torture, calling for regular screening of inmates rather than waiting until they become ill before interventions are made.
Secretary of the independent investigative panel and Founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Dr. Uju Agomoh, called on medical professionals to contribute to prison reform efforts.
“Pro-bono service in custodial centres for mentally ill inmates can be made a requirement for membership in health bodies,” Agomoh suggested. “This would demonstrate commitment and support for ongoing correctional service reforms in Nigeria.” She proposed that psychiatric and clinical psychology associations could offer pro-bono services to correctional hospitals nationwide through their state chapters.
While commending government efforts to address allegations of abuse and corruption in correctional facilities, Agomoh noted that lasting reforms require collaboration from professional bodies across various sectors.
Dr. Abigail Oni, representing the National Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP), stressed the importance of prioritising mental health for both inmates and correctional officers.
As a licensed psychologist and trauma specialist, Oni recommended implementing substance abuse counselling and dual diagnosis treatment for inmates with recurring disorders. These measures, she argued, would “improve behavioural outcomes, reduce violence, enhance rehabilitation, and decrease alleged repeat offences in custodial centres.”
“This commitment also promotes human rights, ensures ethical treatment of inmates, and supports correctional officers’ mental health to boost morale and service delivery,” she added.
The hearing comes amid growing concerns about conditions in Nigeria’s overcrowded correctional facilities. Mental health advocates have long argued that prisons often house individuals who would be better served by psychiatric facilities, creating a cycle where untreated mental illness contributes to both incarceration and recidivism.
The experts’ testimony highlighted the critical intersection between mental healthcare and criminal justice reform, suggesting that improvements in the treatment of mentally ill inmates could not only address human rights concerns but also enhance rehabilitation outcomes and public safety.
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