The Federal Government has freed no fewer than 178 inmates from various custodial centres in Jigawa through the Ministry of Interior.
According to Mr Muhammad Sani, the spokesman for the Nigeria Correctional Service in Jigawa, while disclosing this in a statement issued in Dutse on Thursday, stated that the NCoS Controller in Jigawa, Mr Muazu Garba-Charanchi, freed the inmates on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
“In its efforts to decongest custodial centres nationwide, the Federal Ministry of Interior, in partnership with philanthropists, groups, and corporate bodies, secured the release of 178 inmates in Jigawa.
“Kicking off the exercise at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Hadejia, Garba-Charanchi, appreciated the effort of the minister.
“He also commended donors and the Controller-General of Corrections, Mr Haliru Nababa, for the laudable and kind gesture,’’ Sani stated.
He added that Garba-Charanchi had been lamenting that congestion in custodial centres in Jigawa had deterred efforts of the NCoS in reformation and rehabilitation programmes.
He also stated that Garba-Charanchi charged the released inmates to be of good behaviour and be good ambassadors of peace and security.
Garba-Charanchi advised the remaining inmates to be calm and peaceful to facilitate their reformation and to gain the government’s sympathy, Sani added.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that stipends were paid to the freed inmates to assist them in returning to their respective homes.
NAN