Cross River community reports shops near Afokang prison are sheltering former inmates, says NCS.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) facility in the Afokang area of Calabar South Local Government Area is alleged to be sheltering suspected criminals in nearby shops and other properties. Residents have therefore requested that the federal government relocate the prison to a less populated area.

They also claim that the NCS is allowing other suspected criminals to remain in the vicinity of the facility.

Speaking for the community, Clan Head Muri Eyo Effiong Okon V of Efut Akani Esuk said the prison no longer benefits his community and is instead contributing to a rise in crime.

“Their officials are not engaging with our community, nor are they securing it or aligning with our aspirations. They have fenced around their facility, leaving us exposed to ex‑convicts and other individuals with questionable characters who occupy shops and residential apartments built on their lands.”

“They are harbouring ex‑convicts who cannot trace their origins after release from prison. These people continue to commit crimes from the NCS facility. The NCS should be held accountable for the ex‑convicts lingering around their properties.”

The monarch also alleged that the NCS is distributing undeveloped land to unidentified persons to the detriment of the community.

“They ought to build schools and hospitals on those portions of land to benefit the community.”

He strongly urged the relocation of the facility to a less populated area, noting that when the prison was built, the Afokang neighbourhood was dense bushland.

In response, the State Public Relations Officer for the Service, Effanga Etim, said, “The comptroller of the Service in Cross River State, Aniekan Nyah, has constituted a five‑man committee to investigate the allegations.”

“It is not true that we have blocked the access road of the Afokang community. The road in question is very accessible. We only blocked access into our yard so that hoodlums cannot approach our prison walls.”

Etim also denied that the NCS is harbouring ex‑convicts, adding, “But let’s wait for the outcome of the five‑man committee report.”