Amnesty International Critiques Kano Prison's Cholera Response

Amnesty International issued a statement on September 28, accusing Nigerian authorities of neglecting the health of inmates in Kano prison, leading to preventable deaths from cholera. The organization highlighted issues such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate healthcare, labeling the deaths as “arbitrary deprivation of life,” which violates international human rights law.

In response, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) released a statement on September 29, confirming that only two inmates died—one within the facility and another at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital. The NCoS reported that emergency medical protocols were activated immediately after the first cholera case was detected on September 17, and the outbreak was contained by September 23.

They noted that joint efforts by prison medical staff and Kano State public health officials were instrumental in stabilizing the situation, with senior medical personnel deployed from Abuja to monitor conditions and prevent further spread.