Kaduna State Government Releases 212 Prisoners

         As part of efforts to congest prisons, the Kaduna State Government has reviewed cases of 212 prison awaiting trial between January and April and released them.

         The official statement of Mr Dari Bayero, Secretary, and Committee on Decongestion of Prisons in the state, confirming the release of 212 inmates was made available to newsmen today in Kaduna.

According to the statement, the inmates who spent about 12 years in custody were discharged on the basis of ‘no witness’ to prosecute their cases.

The release was carried out in 12 prison across the state:

61 prisoners were freed from the Kaduna Central Prison;

44 from the Zaria Prison;

17 from the Soba Prison;

20 from Ikara Prison;

13 from Makarfi Prison;

9 from Kachia Prison;

8 from Manchok Prison;

8 from Kwoi Prison;

10 from Kafanchan Prison;

4 from Gwantu Prison;

9 from Saminaka Prison;

9 from Birnin Gwari Prison.

According to the plan, a total of 800 inmates who committed minor offences would be released in 2014 during the next prison visits.

Mr Bayero also commended the state government for providing the committee with funds to carry out its function