In recent times, Nigeria has been plagued by escalating insecurity, which has culminated in daily cases of kidnapping, banditry, robbery, and indiscriminate killings in nearly all six geopolitical zones. The recurring decimal of these criminal operations has made possible the further extension of attacks to the Country’s correctional centers (Prisons), Thereby, hindering the ability and capacity of the Nigerian correctional service to live up to high public expectations of efficient management of correctional facilities across the country. However, despite the high number of attacks, the government appears powerless to stop this threat due to their inability to convict the perpetrators of these crimes. These terrorists on their own have grown more daring as can be observed with the rising cases of prison breaks across the nation as they aim to free their already captured colleagues without fear of being confronted by the security agencies. This paper therefore examined the effect of politicizing insecurity by political actors and its implication on the proper and efficient management of the Nigerian correctional service within the period under review. Using the instrumental theory of terrorism, the paper investigated critically the underlying issues preventing the Nigerian government from successfully apprehending runaway terrorists. Data for the study was collected through documentary sources and analyzed appropriately using the qualitative-descriptive method of data analysis. The study established that there appears to be a convoluted relationship between certain segments of the government or its security personnel and the terrorists wreaking havoc on the Nigerian state and this has had adverse effects on the efficient management of the Nation’s correctional service. As a result, the research urges a thorough investigation of Nigeria’s terrorist sponsors and a complete revamp of the nation’s security system.
Citation: Ogu, E.C.S., Akaose, I C., and Nwokocha, C V., (2022) Politicization of Insecurity and Efficient Management of the Nigerian Correctional Service, 2015-2022, Global Journal of Political Science and Administration, Vol.10, No.4, pp.45-57
Keywords: Efficiency, Insecurity, Terrorism, correctional service, prison breaks
