See number of inmates released in Plateau State

Onyxnews Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Correctional Service in Plateau State announced that some inmates have been released from the state prison.

The state’s correctional centre said the 63 inmates were granted amnesty by the state government.

The Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Correctional Service, Plateau Command, ASC Martha Banda, of the service in Plateau, made this announcement in a statement on Thursday in Jos.

This reliable online news platform recalled that on April 8, 2020, President Mohammadu Buhari , approved the release of 2,600 prisoners in the country to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease in the country.

Banda explained that 57 of the inmates were granted amnesty by the state, while six others were pardoned by the Federal Government.

She said, “You will recall that the federal government had directed that all custodial centers be decongested to avoid the spread of the coronavirus in the county.

“In an effort to decongest correctional facilities in plateau, Gov. Simon Lalong, graciously approved the request of the Controller-General of the Correctional Service and granted amnesty to 57 state offenders.

“The federal government also granted amnesty to 6 inmates, bringing the number to 63 prisoners who are affected across the 7 custodian centers in Plateau,” Banda said.

Banda stated that the categories of convicts that benefitted from the pardon were the ill-health, the aged, those who had served 75 per cent of their sentence with six months or below yet to serve.