….At least 300 men packed in six rooms
Another torture centre alleged to be a rehabilitation centre has been uncovered in Daura local govt in Katsina state.
TVC reports that over 300 people were packed in six rooms and regularly tortured.
This comes days after a similar centre was discovered in Kaduna state where detainees said they had been tortured, sexually abused, starved and prevented from leaving – in some cases for several years.
Briefing reporters at the centre on Monday, Sanusi Buba, commissioner of police, said the investigation revealed that the place had been in existence for at least 40 years.
He said some children who fled the centre had raised the alarm, leading to a police raid.
A total of 360 inmates at the centre reportedly escaped after breaking the burglary proof on Sunday.
Buba said there were six rooms in the facility and each of the rooms accommodated over 40 inmates who were dehumanised.
The police commissioner said some of the children, who have now been rescued, were found in chains.
Buba said some of the inmates were handcuffed and compelled to sleep in rooms that were not ventilated.
“We would mount surveillance to fish out such culprits subjecting children to servitude,” he said.
He urged parents who took their children to the centre to come forward with valid means of identification to claim them, saying “no law in the country permits such inhuman treatment.”
The commissioner added that the condition of inmates called for urgent and serious concern, saying the police would search the 34 local government areas in the state to unravel such centres.
Faruk, Emir of Daura, called on the police and other relevant security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation on the issue.
He urged the police to be fair and just in their investigation so that the culprits would face appropriate sanctions.
The emir, who expressed shock at the discovery, said it was a surprise for such a thing to happen in his domain.
