'Our Staff Who Committed Suicide Had Mental Illness' - Nigerian Correctional Service Reacts

Posted by Thandiubani on Wed 07th Oct, 2020 - tori.ng

The Nigerian Correctional Service has claimed its officer, ASC Alfred Bassa suffered from mental illness before his death.

Bassa

The Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS has reacted to the death of its officer, ASC Alfred Bassa.

Recall that the man had reportedly committed suicide after being denied promotion even though he passed examinations on three occasions.

Reacting, the Assistant Superintendent of Corrections ASC Alfred Bassa who was attached to the New Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa state had reportedly killed himself by drinking an insecticide, Sniper, on October 2.

However, Public Relations Officer of the NCoS Nasarawa state Command, Stephen A. Abene, said the deceased was employed on August 1, 2016, and could not have been eligible for three promotion examinations as the exercise is conducted every three years.

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the service said ASC Bassa suffered from a protracted illness which culminated in a psychiatric challenge before the unfortunate incident.

He said; “I wish to announce the demise of ASC Alfred G. Bassa, who until his death was serving at MSCC Keffi New. His death is sad and unfortunate. May God rest him.

“He was employed on August 1, 2016. Accordingly, he has spent 4 years of Service and was just due for his first advancement in service which is already being processed. Promotion exams in the Correctional Service are due every 3 years. How then has he done 3 promotional exams, not to talk of failing, within 4 years of service?

“From our findings, ASC Alfred G. Bassa died as a result of a protracted illness that led to a psychiatric problem. Contrary to insinuation trending on social media and other platforms that the deceased passed away as a result of missing promotion. I wish to state that such information should be disregarded, please”.

Also, when contacted, Service Public Relations Officer at the headquarters of the NCoS in Abuja, DCC Augustine Njoku told Vanguard that the officer was not denied any of his entitlements.

He said; “The officer had a psychiatric challenge. He was recruited in 2016 and was not qualified for any promotion examination and has never attended any promotion examination. Rather, he was being nominated for what we call upgrading, and then after two years, he would write the Combined Confirmation and Promotion Examination COMPRO and when they pass, the Service raises them to two stars and he has been recommended for that but their own has not been released.

No human being would take his life because of promotion. Some of my own mates are still superintendents. It is not automatic that everybody must be promoted at the same time because there are conditions to be met”.