Venge: 5 types of people you’ll probably find in a Nigerian correctional facility

The Africa Magic series Venge follows the life of Bibi, a young entrepreneur who is engaged to be married. Bibi’s life is altered when she becomes the primary suspect in a money laundering and murder case after being set up by her husband-to-be. 

During her incarceration, she is consumed by her desire for vengeance and will stop at nothing to ensure that her fiancé is paid in his coin.

Her prison experience is perhaps one of the highlights of the show. The different characters, the hierarchy, and cliques she encounters while she’s locked up, as well as the interactions between the wardens and the inmates, all make for an interesting watch. 

Inspired by Bibi’s experience, here are five types of women you’ll probably find in a Nigerian correctional facility.

Mama D Mama

This woman is probably serving a life sentence and has been in the system longer than most people.

She is an interesting mix of subtle and deadly and nobody dares mess with her. She has an army of followers at her beck and call, all trying to curry favors because they know she can do and undo.

The wardens do not like her because she seems to be above the law, but they must respect her because nobody, not even the wardens, would like to be in her bad books.

She also gives the best advice because she has lived enough to garner a wealth of experience and an understanding of how life works. 

The yes men

The Yes men or, in this case, women, are the army of followers behind Mama D Mama. They are loyal to a fault and will do anything to earn her favour.

They may have benefited in one way or another from their leader, either in the form of protection or provision, and as such, they feel indebted to her.

They often come across as not having a mind of their own because they are constantly following orders.

These loyal ladies can be ruthless when the situation or their leader calls for it but ultimately, they will take a bullet for Mama D Mama.

The newbie

This one, much like Bibi, is new to the system and is yet to come to terms with her new reality. She is mostly unaware of the dangers that lurk around every corner, and the hierarchy of command in the correctional centre.

She is often the butt of ugly jokes or bullied by the other inmates because she is still very emotional about her plight and can often be found crying or lamenting. 

She may have been approached by various cliques and groups, urging her to join them for the benefits that come with being a member of such groups, but the newbie is still unsure.

For the newbie, taking things one day at a time and avoiding getting into any more trouble is a priority.

The dealers

These ladies can pull a rabbit out of a hat. There’s literally nothing they cannot supply. From period products to gadgets and even mundane things like sweets, these ones are surest plugs.

Their ways and means are unknown but their business acumen and entrepreneurial spirits are admirable. They are expert smugglers who have mastered the art of getting items past the wardens and into the correctional facility.

They remain neutral in terms of loyalties and cliques, which means they can be patronised by all, a wise tactic that ensures that business continues to boom.

If they weren’t in prison, these ladies would probably be successful businesswomen.

The Oversabi warden

This warden has just been posted to the correctional facility and is determined to prove herself.

She is high-handed and strict with the inmates, quick to strike and remind anyone who dares to defy her that she is in charge.

Her high-handed actions will often incite protests among the inmates, who are tired of her inhumane treatment. 

She mostly acts outside of the authority given to her by her superiors and her actions are often reprimanded. However, this doesn’t stop her as she is convinced that she is doing the right thing.

Catch new episodes of Venge weekdays on Showmax.