Continuous Ex-Offenders’ Reformation and Avoidance of Recidivistic Acts in Nigeria

This paper arose from very serious concern emanating from the skyrocketed cases of recidivistic occurrences in Nigeria which as observed impact negatively on the Nigerian prison reformatory and rehabilitation processes vis-à-vis the security of lives and property. It is common now in Nigeria that our prison population keeps increasing without the corresponding facilities, manpower, and resources to effectively and efficiently reform inmates that after release would be better law-abiding and self-sustaining. From the study, it was revealed that ex-offenders become more hardened and daring, and prefer to habituate the prison environment to outside society. The lack and absence of training tools like mechanic workshops, tailoring shops, and more saddening the cruelty meted out on them inside the prison makes it worse; the stigmatization and outright denial of job opportunities as compared to their counterparts who are not ex-offenders are offensive to them. The study recommends as follows: Government should equip all correctional facilities in Nigeria with the approved international standards that through it inmates, after release, can be meaningfully engaged and be relatively self-sustaining; The government through its agencies like National Orientation Agency, federal radio, and television in conjunction with the religious bodies, sensitize the public on the danger of stigmatizing ex-convicts because it has far-reaching consequences; With the help of social workers, there should be follow-up and an evaluative scheme that requires an ex-offender constantly be monitored to prevent reoffending; and Schools should be established in the prisons and properly funded by the government to help to functionally educate and reshape the minds of the inmates so that upon release they will be better citizens

Intelligence Gathering Imperative: A Tool for Successful Security Outfits’ Operation

This study examines the recent security challenges Nigerians and non-Nigerians encounters in their daily existence to eke a living. These threats are orchestrated by the activities of one of the deadliest terrorist group in the world (Boko Haram), and herdsmen notorious killers, armed banditry, cow rustling by rustlers, incessant kidnapping especially students in schools and unsuspecting Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike; which has made Nigeria federating states unsafe for any meaningful socio-economic development to thrive. To achieve this, two objectives were stated to include, underscore the overarching relevance of intelligent gathering in preventing crime and understand the elaborateness of intelligence gathering that can be utilized to mitigate crimes outcomes. The study found that intelligence gathering is the disconnect that has precipitated this state of affairs in Nigeria. Equally responsible is the people’s loyalty which is first and foremost skewed to ethnoreligious and political considerations instead of the country. It was recommended among other appeals to include: The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) of Nigeria which is the coordinating security agency should be properly funded and personnel trained in modern intelligence gathering techniques, the unnecessary bickering, in-fighting for superiority between and among security agencies in Nigeria should be discouraged because this itself is a big challenge in security equation of Nigeria; and serious effort should be made to stop the politicization of security intelligence gathering matters based on tribe, ethnic group, religious and political affiliations

Enhanced oxidative stress by alcohol use in HIV+ patients: possible involvement of cytochrome P450 2E1 and antioxidant enzymes

BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption is prevalent amongst HIV positive population. Importantly, chronic alcohol use is reported to exacerbate HIV pathogenesis. Although alcohol is known to increase oxidative stress, especially in the liver, there is no clinical evidence that alcohol increases oxidative stress in HIV positive patients. The mechanism by which alcohol increases oxidative stress in HIV positive patients is also unknown. METHODS: To examine the effects of alcohol use on oxidative stress we recruited HIV+ patients who reported mild-to-moderate alcohol use. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to reduce the effect of other therapeutic drugs metabolized via the hepatic system as well as the effect of co-morbidities such as active tuberculosis on the interaction between alcohol and HIV infection, respectively. Blood samples were collected from HIV-negative alcohol-users and HIV positive alcohol-users followed by collection of plasma and isolation and fractionation of monocytes from peripheral blood. We then determined oxidative DNA damage, glutathione level, alcohol level, transcriptional level of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and several antioxidant enzymes, and plasma level of cytokines. RESULTS: Compared to HIV-negative alcohol users, HIV-positive alcohol users demonstrated an increase in oxidative DNA damage in both plasma and CD14+ monocytes, as well as, a relative increase in oxidized/reduced glutathione (GSSG/GSH) in plasma samples. These results suggest an increase in oxidative stress in HIV-positive alcohol users compared with HIV-negative alcohol users. We also examined whether alcohol metabolism, perhaps by CYP2E1, and antioxidant enzymes are involved in alcohol-mediated increased oxidative stress in HIV-positive patients. The results showed a lower plasma alcohol level, which was associated with an increased level of CYP2E1 mRNA in monocytes, in HIV-positive alcohol users compared with HIV-negative alcohol users. Furthermore, the transcription of major antioxidants enzymes (catalase, SOD1, SOD2, GSTK1), and their transcription factor, Nrf2, were reduced in monocytes obtained from HIV positive alcohol users compared to the HIV-negative alcohol user group. However, no significant change in levels of five major cytokines/chemokines were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggests that alcohol increases oxidative stress in HIV+ patients, perhaps through CYP2E1- and antioxidant enzymes-mediated pathways. The enhanced oxidative stress is accompanied by a failure of cellular antioxidant mechanisms to maintain redox homeostasis. Overall, the enhanced oxidative stress in monocytes may exacerbate HIV pathogenesis in HIV positive alcohol users