Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has suspended two officials of the State’s Reformatory Centre over alleged torture and mishandling of an inmate, Usman Musa.
The governor also suspended a casual staff member of the centre, Murtala Suleiman, for his involvement in the victim’s torture.
The state governor announced the suspension following a report by a committee that was mandated to investigate the alleged torture and manhandling of the inmate.
The committee was chaired by the Special Adviser to the state governor on Public Administration and Service Reforms, Usman Isyaku, along with some selected government officials as committee members.
Those suspended include the centre’s Principal, Abdulzahir Abubakar, as well as the Vice Principal, Bala Abubakar.
The victim was said to have been severely tortured, with the punishment leading to the amputation of his left hand and severe injury to his right hand.
A statement issued by Abdullahi Yar’adua, Director of Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), revealed that the governor also approved a sum of N970,000 to cover the victim’s medical bills.
The statement added that the governor further approved N35,000,000 for the procurement of a sensor-enabled prosthetic limb to assist in the victim’s recovery and reintegration.
“The governor also approved the implementation of the committee’s recommendations aimed at upgrading the state reformatory centre to meet international best practices in correctional management and inmate welfare,” the statement said.
It added that the committee has been mandated to oversee the implementation of all approved measures to ensure strict compliance and long-term reforms at the centre.
