The Correctional Service (CS) has defended its officers’ actions during a violent confrontation at Bomana Maximum Security Prison, describing the incident as a controlled response to an escalating inmate clash even as two prisoners remain hospitalised in critical but stable condition.
Acting Commissioner Bernard Nepo said the violence began as a confrontation among inmates allegedly triggered by a dispute over a contraband mobile phone, which quickly spiralled into what he described as a dangerous internal prison disturbance.
According to CS explanations, officers were forced to intervene after prisoners armed themselves with sticks and stones during the midday altercation on Monday, posing a threat to staff and other detainees within the facility.
Nine inmates were rushed for emergency medical treatment following the confrontation. Seven have since been discharged and returned to custody, while two remain under heavy guard in hospital receiving ongoing treatment.
However, internal accounts of the incident have raised serious concerns about the level of force used during the response. Sources claim officers deployed machetes and used aggressive crowd-control measures as they attempted to regain control, leaving several prisoners with severe injuries.
Mr Nepo maintained that medical services remain available across correctional institutions nationwide and insisted prisoner welfare remains a government priority.
“Being a prisoner, you have your boundaries. All your rights are cut off,” he said, while stressing that authorities continue to provide necessary medical care within operational limits.
The incident has since ignited calls for an independent medical audit and broader scrutiny of prison conditions, particularly regarding emergency response procedures and duty of care obligations.
With two inmates still fighting for their lives and tensions lingering inside the country’s largest correctional facility, attention has shifted beyond security concerns to questions over accountability, proportional use of force, and whether medical intervention was delayed during the confrontation.
The Post-Courier understands an internal investigation will examine the sequence of events and the actions of officers involved in the clash.
