FG Frees 2600 Inmates to Decongest Prisons

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, today annouced that the Federal Government has granted amnesty to 2,600 inmates of Custodial Centres across the country.

Aregbesola disclosed this at an ongoing press conference at the headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Abuja.

The minister said at least 70 inmates, who are serving various terms for crimes against the society, would be processed and released later today.

“In a symbolic gesture of the amnesty given to the 2,600 inmates across Nigeria, 41 Federal inmates and 29 FCT inmates making a total of 70 inmates who met the above criteria will be released today from the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja,” Aregbesola said.

The affected inmates, according to the minister, include: Inmates that are 60 years and above, those suffering from ill-health likely to terminate in death, convicts serving three years and above and have less than six months to serve, inmates with mental issues and inmates with option of fine not exceeding N50,000.

He further stated, “This amnesty will not apply to inmates sentenced for violent extreme offences such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, human trafficking, culpable homicide and so on.

“The Governors of the 36 states under whose jurisdiction most of the inmates were incarcerated will complete the exercise in line with the federal principle.”