Rabiu Omaku
78 awaiting trial prisoners across five federal prisons in Nasarawa state has been granted clemency by the state Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, The Governor made this known when he visited and freed 78 inmates at Small Medium Security Prison(SMSP) Keffi Prison yard.
The state government had paid their fines for them to regain their freedom, Adding that the Governor’s olive branches was to enable them have a sense of belonging in the society, as well as to contribute their quarter towards national development.
Hence there is the need for the state government to pay their fines in order to ensure their freedom”. “Inmates deserve our concern because not every prisoner should be condemned in the society.
“I am freeing 78 inmates across the five federal prisons in the state as part of the state Government support to President Muhammadu Buhari efforts in decongesting prisons across the country as well as to make the inmates responsible members of the society,
Al-Makura commended the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazu and the Controller General of the Nigeria Prison Service for deeming it fit to attend the ceremony towards ensuring the released of the 78 inmates.
The governor reinstated Government determination to partner with other federal Government ministries and agencies in revamping the prisons and other sector of the economy.
The Minister of Interior Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazu applauded the Government of Nasarawa state for coming to the aid of the inmates through payment of their fines to ensure their released, Adding that the gestured by the state Government has reduced the burden of prisons authority.
He advised the freed inmates to be of good behaviour and to shun all form of criminal and illegal activities in their own interest and in the interest of peace and nation building.
The minister lament the congestion in Nigerian prisons, He expressed his worriness over the situation, Urging the police, prisons authorities, and other stakeholders to rise up to their responsibilities and partake in sanitizing the judicial system towards ensuring the speedy dispensation of justice in the state and country.
The Nasarawa state Controller of Prisons, Hussaini Mohammed attested that prisons across the state has been congested and commended Gov.Tanko Al-Makura for his intervention towards decongesting the prisons since assumption in office.
“I want to commend Gov. Al-Makura for his continued support to the prison in the state through the provision of three Hummer Buses to ease the transportation of prison inmates as well as the grading of the road that connect Keffi Prisons Small Medium Security Prisons (SMSP) yard,” he said.
