Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, has ordered the release of eight female inmates from the Goron-Dutse Correctional Centre, including two pregnant women and two nursing mothers, who were jailed for minor offences.
The governor paid their fines and compensation, saying they deserved a second chance.
“These women, especially those carrying unborn children or nursing infants, deserve compassion and a chance to return to their families,” Yusuf said during a surprise visit to the prison. “No child should be born or raised behind bars.”
The visit was part of the governor’s plan to improve prison conditions and support inmate welfare. He inspected the facility with some government officials and spoke with the inmates.
“I came here today not just to see the condition of this facility, but to remind the inmates that the government has not forgotten them,” he told reporters. “Our focus is on rehabilitation, not punishment.”
In a statement on Friday, the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said the governor’s action is part of a bigger plan to help rehabilitate and reintegrate inmates back into society.
Governor Yusuf also encouraged the women and other inmates to see prison as a temporary setback, not the end of their lives.
“This is not the end for you. Use this opportunity to rebuild your lives,” he advised.
He also raised concern about the overcrowding in Kano prisons. Out of the 1,939 inmates at Goron-Dutse, only 382 have been convicted. The rest — 1,536 people — are still awaiting trial.
“We cannot allow this kind of congestion to continue,” the governor said. “We will work with the Judiciary to fast-track cases and reduce the burden on our correctional centres.”
To ease overcrowding, he announced plans to move inmates from the crowded Kurmawa Correctional Centre to the Janguza Maximum Security Correctional Facility, which he also visited.
“I am impressed by the infrastructure here at Janguza. It’s only right that we begin to move inmates here for better living conditions,” he added.
The Governor also gave immediate support to the inmates by ordering the supply of cows, food, mattresses, blankets, and drinks
