Amnesty calls for emergency at Kano prison after six suspected cholera deaths
Amnesty International Calls for Emergency Declaration at Kano Prison Amid Cholera Outbreak
Amnesty International Nigeria urged government officials to declare a state of emergency at the Kurmawa Maximum Prison in Kano following the reported deaths of at least six inmates in one week due to a suspected cholera outbreak.
In a statement on social media made public on Friday, the organization highlighted that several other inmates are currently receiving medical treatment. Amnesty officials expressed concern that the death toll could rise as the disease spreads among the prison population, which primarily consists of individuals awaiting trial.
“Immediate hospital transfers must be done for critically ill prisoners,” Amnesty International Nigeria stated, emphasizing the need for urgent action to prevent further fatalities, which it described as potentially constituting arbitrary deprivation of life—a serious violation of human rights under international law.
The organization also criticized the general conditions within Nigerian correctional facilities, noting that many inmates face prolonged periods of detention in overcrowded and unsanitary environments lacking sufficient food and healthcare. Amnesty argued that those without financial resources are especially vulnerable.
“The reality is that in Nigeria, those in prison stand little chance of their rights being respected,” the statement said. “Some could end up spending the rest of their lives behind bars in appalling conditions without ever having been convicted of a crime.”
Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Nigerian government to take immediate steps to enhance conditions within detention facilities and ensure that the treatment of inmates aligns with international human rights obligations and standards.
