Six Inmates Die in One Week as Suspected Cholera Outbreak Hits Kano Prison

No fewer than six inmates have reportedly died within one week following a suspected cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Maximum Prison in Kano State.

Amnesty International raised the alarm over the situation, calling on relevant authorities to urgently declare an emergency at the correctional facility and take immediate steps to contain the suspected outbreak.

The human rights organisation, in a statement posted on its official Facebook page, said several other inmates were currently receiving treatment, warning that the death toll could rise if urgent medical intervention was not provided.

Amnesty International called for critically ill inmates to be transferred immediately to hospitals where they could receive adequate medical attention.

The organisation warned that failure to take urgent action to protect the lives of inmates could amount to arbitrary deprivation of life, which constitutes a serious human rights violation under international law.

The reported deaths have also renewed concerns over the conditions in Nigeria’s correctional facilities, particularly overcrowding, poor sanitation and inadequate access to healthcare.

Amnesty International expressed particular concern about inmates awaiting trial, noting that detainees who lack the financial means to secure legal assistance often face prolonged periods in custody without being convicted of any offence.

According to the organisation, some inmates spend years behind bars while awaiting trial, amid conditions that include overcrowded cells, inadequate food and limited access to healthcare.

It urged the authorities to investigate the reported deaths, provide urgent medical care to affected inmates and take immediate measures to prevent further spread of the suspected disease.

Amnesty International also called for broader reforms across Nigeria’s correctional system to improve sanitation, healthcare, prison conditions and the protection of inmates’ rights in line with national and international standards.