The Federal Government has released 3,789 inmates from prisons nationwide as part of measures to forestall the spread of coronavirus since the discovery of COVID-19 in the country.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami made this public on Tuesday while speaking at an event meant to highlight the achievements of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion (formerly, Presidential Committee on Prisons Reform and Decongestion).
He. said: ”As part of measures to decongest the custodial centres nationwide in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the dangers posed to the centres, my office, the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with Presidential Committee on Correctional Service and Decongestion, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy and State Executives and other relevant stakeholders were galvanised to develop measures to overcome the challenges.
”The initiatives adopted have so far led to the release of about 3,789 inmates, while simultaneously reducing the instances of unnecessary test and we intend to sustain this momentum.”
Malami also noted that the Presidential Committee has since its establishment in October 2017 facilitated the release of a total of 7,713 from 39 prisons in 18 states that it has visited and appraised.
