The inmates staged the protests on Friday after overhearing a downward review of food size in the facility.
The inmates who converged at the center of the prison yard, shouted at the top of their voices refused to take orders from the custodial officials, and also shunned breakfast during the protest.
However, custodial officials dispersed the protesting inmates, using tear gas to return them to their rooms at the Jos Correctional Center.
The Comptroller of the Correctional Centre, Raphael Ibinuhi confirmed the incident, attributing the protest to the high cost of living.
“By the time the inmates were called this morning for briefing, they were not happy that the period for consumption of rice has been reduced from four times to two in a week and expressed dissatisfaction on the development.
“I instructed the officer in charge to return them to their cells but instead they became violent and started throwing stones at the personnel. In response and to keep the situation from getting out of hand, we have to resort to firing tear gas canisters and gunshots, which enable the handsmen to return the inmates to the cells. Some of the personnel sustained minor injuries from the stones thrown at them but no inmates were injured as the situation was brought under control,” Ibinuhi said.
Recall that there were numerous protests nationwide due to the significant economic hardship experienced by citizens.
But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for patience, saying there are benefits of his economic policies in the long term.
He, however, condemned Monday’s nationwide protests embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), describing it as unacceptable.