A former armed robber who spent over 25 years in Nigerian prisons has described the country’s correctional facilities as breeding grounds for crime rather than centres for rehabilitation, saying incarceration only made him more dangerous.
Kolawole Temitope, an ex-convict and now an evangelist, said he learnt advanced criminal skills, including the use of firearms, while in custody, contradicting the purpose of imprisonment.
“Prison is not truly a correctional centre. It is a place where you learn more bad things. In every prison I went to, I learnt bad things I did not know before,” he said.
‘I Learnt How to Use Guns in Prison’
Temitope revealed that he was first arrested in 1986 at the age of 17 and sent to a juvenile borstal, where he encountered older and more experienced criminals.
“Before going to prison, I had never used guns. I was only breaking into places. It was in prison that I learnt how to use guns. When I came out, I became a full-time armed robber,” he said.
He disclosed that he was imprisoned 12 times and spent a total of 25 years and seven months in custody, returning to crime repeatedly after each release.
Why He Targeted Churches
During his criminal years, Temitope said he led robbery gangs that frequently targeted churches, particularly branches of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, due to the presence of cash, musical instruments and equipment.
He admitted that he often prayed before robbery operations, insisting he did not use charms despite many of his associates relying on them.
Prison Worship, No Real Change
Despite frequent religious activities in Nigerian prisons, Temitope argued that genuine repentance is rare because obedience is enforced rather than internalised.
“You obey in prison because you are forced to. When you come outside, your true character shows,” he said, adding that he once returned to crime the same day he was released from custody.
Alleged Inequality in Nigerian Prisons
The ex-convict also alleged widespread inequality within the prison system, claiming wealthy inmates enjoy privileges while poor inmates are overcrowded and neglected.
“The rich have private rooms and comfort. The poor are packed 13 to 15 people in one cell, and many die there because they cannot afford bribes,” he alleged.
Turning Point in 2021
Temitope said his criminal career ended in September 2021 after he encountered a handwritten Christian message while preparing for another robbery. He said the message triggered deep reflection and led to his conversion.
Since then, he has taken up informal evangelism, preaching in churches and prisons while struggling to earn a living due to his criminal record and a damaged right hand.
Life After Prison
He disclosed that securing employment remains difficult, noting that many employers reject ex-convicts regardless of reform.
“In Nigeria, nobody wants to employ an ex-convict,” he said, explaining that he survives by doing menial jobs to support his nine-year-old son.
‘I Am the Only One Left’
Temitope said he is the sole survivor among 43 members of his former criminal gang, attributing his survival to divine mercy and stressing that he never killed anyone during his years in crime.
He called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s correctional system, warning that without meaningful rehabilitation programmes, prisons would continue to function as training grounds for criminals rather than centres for reform.
Cr.: Punch
