Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has ordered the release of 136 inmates from Kano Correctional Centres as part of effort to decongest the facility.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Abba Anwar announced the gesture in a statement, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH in Kano on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the Governor made the announcement when he visited Gorondutse Medium Correctional Centre as part of his Sallah visits during the Sallah period on Tuesday.
Ganduje urged them to be of sound character when they are finally integrated into society.
“In your position as Nigerians who deserve to be taken care of, we are here today, Sallah Day, to celebrate with you this great Sallah period, by way of releasing some of you who are pardoned.
“We are here to also see how you are feeling and to share our joyous moment with you. We want those of you who have repented to promise that you won’t go back to your previous nefarious acts,” he said.
According to Ganduje, “Some of you are released because of ill-health, some stayed longer than necessary and some were incarcerated because they were not able to pay charges placed on them.”
He said the decision to pardon them was in compliance with the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, to decongest Correctional Centres across the country.
In his remarks, the Controller of Kano Correctional Centres, Sulaiman T. Sulaiman commended the governor for the gesture.
Each of the inmates was given Five Thousand Naira to transport themselves to their respective hometowns.
