The Nigerian Correctional Service has confirmed the death of an inmate at the Okere Correctional Facility in Warri, Delta State. The inmate, identified as David (surname withheld), passed away while receiving treatment at the Central Hospital, Warri.
Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, DCP Richard Egbede, who oversees the facility, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday. He also responded to social media claims alleging negligence by prison authorities.
Contrary to public speculation, DCP Egbede said the inmate was HIV-positive and died due to complications from not taking his antiretroviral (ARV) medication.
“The inmate who died was HIV-positive and had refused to take his drugs. We’ve been giving him drugs all the time, but he just kept them. He was not taking them,” Egbede said.
He explained that the correctional service was aware of the inmate’s health status and had made efforts to ensure proper care. According to him, when the inmate’s condition worsened about a month ago, he was immediately rushed to Central Hospital for treatment.
“They took care of him. After 2 or 3 days, he was discharged, and we brought him back. We then advised him, please be taking your drugs,” he said.
Despite repeated counseling and support, the inmate allegedly continued to avoid taking his prescribed medication. Egbede described the final days leading to the inmate’s death, saying that the prison staff and fellow inmates did their best to assist him.
“Before he passed on, he developed a light fever. I was in the prison till around 8pm that night when we gave him a drip. Thank God for his cellmates. They even donated money when we needed to take him back to the hospital,” Egbede explained.
He added that the inmate’s condition became critical in the early hours of last Sunday. The medical team was called in as soon as it was daylight, and he was once again rushed to Central Hospital.
“At the hospital, he had already started jerking. The doctor placed him on oxygen and began testing, but before the result came out, he died,” the Deputy Comptroller narrated.
Egbede insisted that the prison did everything possible to provide medical attention and support for the late inmate and denied reports claiming the custodial service was negligent.
“I don’t know what the media is saying. But to the best of my knowledge, if the boy was alive, he would tell you Oga took care of me,” he said.
The Nigerian Correctional Service has not yet released an official written statement beyond the clarification given by DCP Egbede.
The death of the inmate has sparked debate on social media, with some users alleging neglect and poor healthcare in Nigerian prisons. Others, however, have called for the public to avoid jumping to conclusions without full facts.
Okere Correctional Facility is one of the major prisons in Delta State and houses both awaiting-trial inmates and convicts. Like many other prisons across the country, it faces challenges including overcrowding and limited medical resources. Despite these issues, officials maintain that efforts are ongoing to improve the welfare and health of inmates.
Access to proper healthcare remains a major concern within the Nigerian prison system. Many inmates suffer from chronic illnesses, including HIV/AIDS, skin raches, tuberculosis, and mental health conditions. NGOs and international partners have often urged Nigerian authorities to improve prison healthcare facilities and increase awareness about disease prevention and treatment.
For now, the cause of death remains tied to HIV complications, according to officials, with no evidence of foul play or negligence.
