A Nigerian woman and her infant daughter are reportedly in critical condition after being abandoned by police authorities in Suleja Correctional Facility under inhumane conditions, prompting outrage from human rights advocates and calls for immediate intervention.
According to the distressed husband, his wife was arrested weeks ago under questionable circumstances and was subsequently detained at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State. While in custody, she gave birth to their daughter. Instead of being taken to a hospital or sheltered in a medical facility, she and the newborn were left in the overcrowded and unsanitary prison, where they have since been deprived of basic medical care and adequate nutrition.
The husband further alleges that police and prison officials demanded money in exchange for granting medical attention and better treatment for his wife and baby—an extortion he could not afford.
“My wife is gravely ill and my baby is starving. I have begged them to help, but they keep asking for money I do not have. They said until I pay, nothing can be done,” the husband told reporters.
Sources familiar with the case confirm that both mother and child are now malnourished and showing signs of severe illness. Photos and medical notes shared with human rights monitors reveal symptoms of dehydration, infection, and physical deterioration.
Human rights organizations have condemned the incident as a gross violation of both Nigerian and international laws protecting women, children, and detainees.
“This is not only cruel—it is illegal,” said a representative of the Center for Justice and Accountability. “Nigerian law prohibits detaining nursing mothers in this manner, and infants should never be subjected to prison conditions.”
The 2019 Nigerian Correctional Service Act specifically mandates proper care for pregnant women and nursing mothers in custody, including access to medical facilities. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Nigeria is a signatory, also provides protections against the incarceration of infants and obligates member states to safeguard child welfare.
As of this release, neither the Nigerian Police Force nor the Nigerian Correctional Service has issued a formal response to the allegations. Repeated attempts to reach prison authorities at Suleja have gone unanswered.
This case adds to a growing list of disturbing reports involving abuse, neglect, and corruption within Nigeria’s criminal justice system. The incident underscores the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and systemic reform.