Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has pardoned 136 prison inmates as part of measures to decongest correctional centres in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Abba Anwar, made the announcement in a statement in Kano on Wednesday.
Anwar said that the governor took the decision when he visited the Goron-Dutse Medium Correctional Centre to felicilate with the inmates at Eid.
“You are Nigerians, who deserved to be taken care of and that is why we are here today to celebrate with you at this Eid-el-Kabir by pardoning some of you.”
“We are also here to see how you are feeling and to share the joyous moment with you.
“We want those of you who repented to promise us not to go back to your previous nefarious acts,” the governor was quoted as saying.
Anwar said that some of the inmates were pardoned either due to ill-health or for staying longer than necessary.
He noted that others were there because they were unable to pay fines slammed on them.
“The pardoning is in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to decongest correctional centres across the country,”
In his remarks, the Comptroller of the Kano Correctional Centres, Mr Sulaiman T. Sulaiman, commended the governor for being humane.
“I have worked for 30 years in many states. I have never seen a state governor who cares so much about the plight of inmates in our correctional centres as Gov Ganduje,” he said.
Sulaiman thanked the governor for giving inmates cattle and rams to celebrate the Eid el Kabir.
