How Many More?

Most of the torture houses exposed in Nigeria were masquerading as rehabilitation and religious centres. Within a few weeks, about five centres in the states of Katsina, Kaduna, Kano and  Kwara have been uncovered, with over a 1000 inmates released. Today in Lagos state, 15 chained inmates were rescued from a \’prayer\’ house operated by a prophet. What comes to mind is that supposed rehabilitation centres in Nigeria are nothing but houses of horror where unfortunate Nigerians face worst forms of inhumanity. Although there are revelations that relatives send unruly family members and drug addicts to some of these centres for help, the indignity they face was probably not envisaged. The worrisome physical, psycho-emotional and sexual torture inmates face in those nondescript structures is damaging. How many more houses are out there?

The exposures so far are worrisome eye-openers. In localities where these centres are situated, it may have appeared as rehabilitation and prayer houses. Even unsuspecting families have sent their loved ones to these places in the hope of having back reformed individuals. From the ongoing, it can be inferred that government and religious institutions are not doing enough to checkmate the excesses of these centres under their watch.

In line with Merriam Webster Dictionary, rehabilitation involves the therapeutic restoration and improvement of one\’s condition in a way that its beneficial to the person and society. Far from it, the centres uncovered thus far, are striking contrasts to the real purpose of rehabilitation. It is a no-brainer that there are more horror houses in the country yet to be exposed. Government through the instrumentality of security agencies should initiate nationwide operations targeted at uncovering such centres. In an article tagged Horror House, Nextier argues that horror houses as these are breeding grounds for extremists, criminals and social misfits. As such, government has to look at this unfolding trends as a security risk.

A nationwide re-registration and monitoring of rehabilitation and religious centres will help in tackling torture centres disguising as places for reformation. Government should, through its relevant parastatals, initiate registration and monitoring process that will bring all centres under government\’s purview and regulations. After a stipulated period, centres still operating without government’s approval should be closed down and its operators made to face the law. In addition to these efforts, religious institutions have a prominent role to play by interfacing with the government to ensure centres operating under their aegis are doing so in line with best practices. Citizens should also inform security operatives of the existence of such centres in their areas through improved neighbourhood watch and vigilance. The consequences of having hundreds of tortured individuals might not be clear yet, but if allowed to continue, the security risks they pose in future are greatly disturbing.