By TWE News Desk

Bishop Kayode Williams, Director General of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission, has highlighted the need for specific accommodations to ensure the safety of certain inmates and prevent conflicts within Nigeria’s correctional facilities. His remarks come in the wake of recent discussions surrounding the incarceration of crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News, Bishop Williams explained that Nigerian correctional facilities house various categories of inmates, including convicted criminals, those awaiting trial, and even condemned prisoners. He stressed the importance of proper documentation and classification when inmates are first admitted to the facility.

“When an inmate enters the prison for the first time, they must be properly documented—who they are and where they should be housed,” Williams explained. He raised concerns about the challenges posed by individuals whose gender identity does not conform to traditional norms, saying, “How do we treat someone who is neither fully recognized as a man nor a woman? In the case of a transgender person like Bobrisky, the situation could cause significant unrest within the prison.”

Williams noted that the confusion surrounding Bobrisky’s gender identity is not just a social issue but one that directly impacts how correctional services handle housing arrangements. He said, “Are we to classify this individual as a man or a woman? Thank God Bobrisky openly declared his identity in court, but the confusion still persists.”

He also emphasized the importance of protecting inmates like Bobrisky from potential harm within the prison environment. “There are specific cells for death row inmates who should not mingle with others, and similar provisions should be made for individuals like Bobrisky,” he said. “Putting someone with a transgender appearance in a general male population could lead to violence.”

Bishop Williams warned of the dangers that could arise from inappropriate housing, pointing out the presence of predatory inmates. “There are chronic homosexual inmates who are eager to take advantage of others, including those who are not transgender,” he stated.

He advocated for protective custody in such cases, saying, “The safest course of action is to provide special accommodations for Bobrisky in protective custody. Otherwise, they could be torn apart by other inmates.”

Williams also referenced past instances where notable individuals, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, were kept in single cells rather than with the general prison population, as a means of protection. He concluded by expressing hope that Nigeria’s correctional centers could still fulfill their role in rehabilitating inmates, despite the many challenges they face.

“We are not there yet,” he admitted, “but Nigeria’s prisons can still become truly correctional, even though there’s a lot of work to be done.”