Within the context of the fight against Boko Haram in Cameroon, officials of the Penitentiary Administration have handed over some 17 brand new automobiles to eight prisons in the Far North, North, Centre and Littoral regions.

The automobiles comprising of five Toyota hiace minibuses (with security reinforcement), seven Hilux 4x4 double cabin pick-ups and five Iveco Euro Cargo trucks were handed to the Maroua, Kousseri, Yagoua, Tchollire, Yoko, Yaounde and Douala prisons by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice in charge of Penitentiary Administration, Doh Jerome Penbaga in two separate ceremonies on Friday September 4, in Yaounde.

Speaking to reporters after handing over the keys to the vehicles in Yaounde, Mr Doh stated that the move is to ameliorate prison conditions in the country. He said the Head of State’s gesture is coming within the context of insecurity and the war against Boko Haram given that the prisons play a central role in the fight.

He revealed that over 700 terrorists are detained in Prisons especially in the Northern part of the country where they are being followed up by the courts. The vehicles will not only serve to take detainees to courts but will also transport sick inmates to hospitals.

The Secretary of State in charge of Penitentiary Administration also indicated that the move was in application of the Prime Minister’s last instruction to accelerate judicial proceedings in order to decongest prisons. The late evacuation of detainees to court, he noted, is one of the factors that delays judicial proceedings.

According to the Superintendent of the Yaounde Principal Prison, Enguena Abanda, vehicles are one of the principal tools in prison management. He rejoiced that the new automobiles handed to them are in line with the respect of human rights of detainees.