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The South East Security Network (SESN has decried the unwholesome activities of ex-convicts in the South East zone of the country.
The group, in a statement after their 2025 New Year meeting held in Awka to analyze the deplorable insecurity situation in the zone, said ex-convicts contributed significantly to kidnapping, car snatching,g, and killings in the zone.
In the statement signed by their zonal leader, Col. Jude Obi rtd, the group said their investigation showed that most of the major criminal activities in areas like Onitsha, Ogbaru, Owerri and municipalities, Ukwu oji, Awo Idemili, Umunze, Ogbunka, Ogbe-Ukwu, Osumughu, Iheteowerri, Ogberuru, Obibi Ochasi Ukwuru among others had ex-convicts as arrowheads.
This, they said, called to question the Criminal Justice System in the country and the process of reformation of inmates in our Correctional Centres.
“Why should ex-convicts be hardened after serving out their jail terms? Even those still serving their jail terms commit crimes right from Correctional Centres. Why should it be so? What is the process of correcting them? There should be something fundamentally wrong with our Correctional measures if after their terms they go back hardened and join criminal gangs.” said the Network.
They called for comprehensive overhauling of the Correctional Centres to cater to the total well-being of the inmates, even after they might have completed their jail terms.
“Our Governments should evolve a process that will take care of these ex-convicts after coming out from Correctional Centres. Government can either provide them with jobs or pay them monthly stipends to fully help integrate them into the larger society” said the group.
The Network attributed the high crime rate in the zone and even beyond to jailbreaks in Owerri, Imo State, Onitsha, Edo State, and other parts of the country some time ago, where over four thousand inmates broke loose and poured into the society, now terrorizing the people.
The group said some of these inmates were hardened and condemned criminals who came out and became more aggressive.
They suggested that before inmates are set free into society, they should be attached to places, preferably companies, where they can be productive and earn a living so that they would not be tempted to go back to their criminal activities again.
