UNOCI trains Ivorian prison guards

Some 40 wardens of the Abengourou Prison, 210 km east of Abidjan on Tuesday 6 May 2014 took part in a course organized by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) on the use of force and arms in times of crisis and the manning of security posts in the prison environment. The course was conducted by the staff of the Penitentiary Unit of the Rule of Law Section of UNOCI.

Using a practical approach, the prison guards were taught the different conditions and methods requiring the use of force and firearms in times of crisis and escape of detainees. "A security man must be prudent when he acts. He is expected to be very vigilant," they were told.

Other subjects treated were the manning of security posts and mental health in the prison environment.

Earlier, a UN penitentiary staff and UNOCI's coordinator in Abengourou, Luc Zina lectured the course participants on the basic principles of prison security and how to conduct a perfect search in prison.

At the close of the training, the Superintendent of Abengourou Prison, Sinali Ouattara thanked UNOCI for the initiative which he said would improve the functioning of his establishment and would spur his staff to work with more determination and professionalism.