Five male inmates at the old Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre in Nasarawa State have been granted freedom after their fines were paid off as a reward for good conduct while in custody.
President of the Nigerian Correctional Officers’ Wives Association (NICOWA), Mrs. Victoria Nwakuche, stated this during her visit to the facility in commemoration of International Women’s Month on Thursday.
The President, who is also the wife of the Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, explained that NICOWA, in partnership with the Sisters of Virtue Association, decided to boost the government’s effort at decongesting custodial centres by setting free five inmates. The criteria for selecting the beneficiaries were based primarily on good behaviour, among other factors.
Addressing the inmates at the female wing of the facility, she said: “When we visit any of the custodial centres, apart from just giving them food items and other packs, we also try to find out which inmate we can help to release because our prisons in the cities are often congested.
“We believe that if we release one today and release one tomorrow, it will reduce the number of inmates, and that is part of our drive.”
To the beneficiaries, Mrs Nwakuche advised: “Go out and become better citizens. Do not go back to crime. Now that we are setting you free, don’t do anything that will bring you back here (to prison) again.”
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The NICOWA President commended the officer in charge of the centre, Muhammed Barau, and the state Controller, Ibrahim Yau, for smoothly running the centre, urging them to continue to give their best to the service.
Presenting the food items, self-care packs, and sanitary materials, the President of the Sisters of Virtue Association, Dr. Mrs. Ebi West-Idahosa, noted that the acquisition of skills while in custody is very helpful for inmates’ reintegration after serving their term.
She assured that her association would continue to extend support to the inmates to make their stay behind bars bearable.
Expressing their gratitude, the inmates thanked the visiting team. They called on NICOWA to use its influence to sustain the recent uninterrupted court appearance of inmates through the provision of a new vehicle, among other needs.
