Gombe correctional service denies blocking remanded activist’s visitors

The Nigerian Correctional Service, Gombe State Command, has denied allegations that it denied members of the Take-It-Back Movement access to remanded state coordinator, Thomas Umar.

Our correspondent reports that Umar, 32, was remanded on April 10, 2025, at the Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre on the order of the Federal High Court, Gombe.

He is being held in custody for the offence of insult, enmity, hatred and ill will, which is a punishable offence under the Cybercrime Act 2015, now amended in a case filed by the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives and member representing Billiri Balanga Federal Constituency, Ali Isa.

According to a press statement obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, which was signed by DSC Abdullahi Hamma, the Command’s Public Relations Officer on behalf of Salihu Abdullahi, the Controller of Corrections, Gombe State Command, the story that officials barred members of the group was false.

Hamma disclosed that the allegations being peddled by an online news outlet were false, unpatriotic and an attempt at denting the good image of the service.

The PRO said that NCoS remained committed to ensuring that the rights of every inmate was protected in line with the provisions of the law.

Hamma said, “The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Gombe State Command, has been drawn to a purported online report.

The online report alleged that officials of the MSCC Gombe blocked members of the above-mentioned group from visiting the said Thomas Umar.

“The command wishes to inform the general public that this report is false, unpatriotic and also fabricated to paint the  image of the Service in bad light.”

Hamma said that the inmate, Umar, had earlier applied through the Welfare Office that only a few authorised persons would visit him, stressing that the names of those persons he wished to see were clearly listed in the content of his application.

He said that Umar clearly stated in his application that any visitor whose names were not mentioned in his application should not be allowed unless with his “humble consent.”

While urging the media to painstakingly fact-check their stories to avoid circulating falsehoods, he stressed the need for members of the public to disregard the report.

“The NCoS is committed to upholding justice and fairness in ensuring that all inmates in custody are being properly reformed, rehabilitated and reintegrated at the expiration of their jail term,” Hamma added.