The Nigerian Correctional Service has revealed the number of inmates released in line with a presidential directive on the decongestion of prisons in the wake of the deadly COVID-19 Virus.
In a statement on Thursday., its Public Relations Officer, DCC Austin Njoku, said that 3,751 inmates including convicts and awaiting trial persons have so far been released by state Chief Judges.
He noted that the process is still ongoing, adding that a total of 2, 600 inmates will benefit from the release across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The NCoS wishes to state that the process is ongoing, as other measures are in place to ensure continuity and the final figures will be made public at the end of the exercise.
“A breakdown of the release shows that 2, 740 convicts and 1, 011 Awaiting Trial Inmates have so far benefited from the exercise.
“The Controller General of Corrections Ja’afaru Ahmed wishes to use this medium to express his profound gratitude to all the State Governors, Chief Judges and other stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System who have work tirelessly to carry out this exercise and encourage its continuity.
“The Service is assuring that all inmates qualified for the amnesty and jail delivery will be released accordingly”, the statement said.
