COVID-19: 9,900 Inmates Admitted As Prisons Reopen In 28 States

Ahmed said this during the presentation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other materials by Prisoners Rehabilitation Welfare Action (PRAWA), and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) to the service on Wednesday in Abuja.

He, however, added that eight states were yet to comply with the COVID-19 guidelines for reopening.

He also explained that, since the admission was restored, over 9,900 inmates had been taken to the various custodian centres in the country.

The CG said that no single case of COVID- 19 was recorded in any custodial centre across the nation up till date.

“We have been investing a lot in the health of the inmates, especially during this Coronavirus pandemic.

“We have also been receiving donations from other organisations. I can assure you that there is  no COVID-19 case at our custodial centres,” he said.

Ja’afaru said that over 20,000 offenders were currently in non-custodial situation in the FCT as part of efforts to decongest the custodial centres and ensure good hygienic situation.

He disclosed that more offenders were serving their punishments from home across the country.

He assured that the materials donated would go a long way to keeping  the virus away from custodial centres.

Read also: COVID-19: NCS suspends visitors to correctional centres in Plateau

Speaking about the donation, the Executive Director, PRAWA, Dr Uju Agomoh, said that the materials would be distributed across correctional centres in the FCT.

Agomoh expressed PRAWA’s continuous commitment to the promotion of institutional reforms, creation of access to justice, rehabilitation and social development for offenders, ex-offenders, tortured victims and youths at risk.