The Governor Kaduna State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has released 136 inmates from custodial centres in the state as part of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Ganduje announced the release in a statement on Tuesday, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar.
The governor, who spoke during a visit to Goron Dutse Medium Custodial Centre, said, “In your position as Nigerians who deserve to be taken care of, we are here today, Sallah Day, to celebrate with you this great Sallah period, by way of releasing some of you who are pardoned.
“We are here to also see how you are feeling and to share our joyous moment with you. We want those of you who repented to promise not to go back to their previous nefarious acts.”
Explaining what led to their release, Governor Ganduje said “Some of you are released because of ill-health, some stayed longer than necessary and some were incarcerated because they were not able to pay charges placed on them.”
Furthermore he said that the pardoning exercise was in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to decongest Correctional Centers across the country, so “we are therefore following this directive, particularly because of COVID-19 pandemic, as directed by the President.”
