Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to immediately declare an emergency at the 115-year-old Kurmawa Maximum Prison in Kano, following the reported deaths of at least six inmates within a week amid a suspected cholera outbreak.
The rights organisation said several other inmates are currently receiving treatment, warning that the death toll could rise as the suspected disease continues to spread through the facility.
Amnesty urged the authorities to urgently transfer critically ill inmates to hospitals, stressing that failure to act could result in further deaths and potentially constitute an arbitrary deprivation of life, which amounts to a serious human rights violation under international law.
The organisation expressed particular concern over the large number of awaiting-trial inmates reportedly held at the facility, warning that the health emergency must not be allowed to worsen before decisive action is taken.
Amnesty said the situation at Kurmawa reflects broader concerns about conditions in Nigeria’s correctional facilities, where inmates are frequently held for prolonged periods in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions with inadequate access to food and healthcare.
It said those unable to secure adequate legal and financial support are particularly vulnerable to prolonged detention, with some awaiting trial for years without conviction.
“The reality is that in Nigeria those in prison stand little chance of their rights being respected. Those without money stand even less chance,” the organisation said.
Amnesty further criticised the continued detention of people for extended periods without conviction, warning that some inmates could spend years behind bars in deplorable conditions while awaiting the conclusion of their cases.
The organisation called for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s custodial system, including improved sanitation, healthcare, adequate food, decongestion of correctional facilities and faster access to justice for awaiting-trial inmates.
It stressed that the treatment of people in custody must comply with Nigeria’s human rights obligations, best practices and international standards.
The call comes as authorities in Kano have separately been pursuing measures to decongest custodial facilities. The Kano State Council for Prerogative of Mercy, working with the Nigerian Correctional Service, recently began visiting custodial centres across the state to review inmates’ welfare and explore measures to reduce congestion.
Amnesty’s latest intervention, however, places the immediate focus on the reported health emergency at Kurmawa and the need for rapid medical intervention to prevent further loss of life.
