The Kaduna State Government has announced the release of 19 inmates of Birnin-Gwari Prisons, as part of ongoing efforts to decongest prisons in the state. This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna by Mr Barau Emmanuel, Technical Assistant on Media to the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ruth Dyeris-Sijuwade. It said that the prisoners were released after evaluation of their cases by the Committee on Prisons Decongestion, headed by the commissioner. According to the statement, those released were mainly first time offenders for non-capital offences and those held for offences not found in law. “Members of the committee are of the opinion that such offenders are better given a second chance to change their ways and turn good citizens, instead of allowing them to be in jail with hardened criminals. “Among those released were those already granted bail, but could not meet up with their bail conditions and an inmate, who was released on medical grounds and whose crime is a minor offence,”it said. It further said that all the released inmates were given a repatriation sum to reunite them with their families. “The Attorney-General admonished them to take advantage of the second chance to make meaning out of their lives and contribute meaningfully to the society. “She equally warned that those who return to crime would meet the full wrath of the law,” said the statement.
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