The members of the Housewives Initiative Development Association in Sokoto State on Thursday paid N100,000 as fines to free eight inmates from the Central Prisons in Sokoto.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the association had donated assorted materials to the inmates of the prison.
NAN also reports that the freed inmates were serving various jail terms ranging from six months to two years.
In the same vein, they had been jailed with various options of fines ranging from N 5,000 to N 25,000 but could not pay the fines.
The Chairperson of the association, Mrs Hassana Dangaskiya, said that the gesture was to help in further reducing the congestion in the prison.
“We paid these fines to free these inmates as a way of alleviating their suffering as most of them are from indigent families.
“We are, however, appealing to them to shun all acts capable of coming back to the prison, just like we are calling on other wealthy individuals and organisations to emulate our association,” she added.
The Controller of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Sokoto State Cmmand, Mrs Hauwa Shettima, commended the association for the gesture.
Shettima, who spoke through Mr Dalhatu Ibrahim, also promised the judicious use of the donated items.
A spokesman of the freed inmates, Sani Tambuwal, commended the association for the gesture and promised to shun all acts capable of bringing them back to the prison.
Some of the items donated to the inmates included foodstuffs, drugs, detergents and toiletries.
NAN also reports that the association had earlier donated similar items worth about N600,000 to the Sokoto Orphanage, Sokoto Remand Home, Amanawa General Hospital and the Maryam Abacha Hospital.
Meanwhile, head of the Sokoto Remand Home, Alhaji Dahiru Lawal, on Thursday said 13 inmates had escaped from the centre in the last two years due to the poor state of its facilities.
Lawal disclosed this in Sokoto when he received a donation from an NGO, Housewives Initiative Development Association,
He appealed to the Sokoto State Government to undertake massive rehabilitation of the centre which was in very deplorable condition.
Lawal said that the Home, which served as reformatory for convicted juveniles, required urgent government support, to enable it discharge its responsibility more effectively.
The official said that the inmates were able to escape due to the poor state of facilities at the centre.
“The inmates dug a hole under one of the windows of their cell and fled. It had been repaired and seven of them were re-arrested.
“Four of the escapees surrendered themselves to the court while two are still at large.”
Lawal disclosed that the Home currently has 16 inmates who were either jailed or placed on remand for offences ranging from armed robbery, theft, rape, sodomy, among others.
The official, therefore, urged the state government to rehabilitate the facility “which is now in a serious state of dilapidation.”
He also solicited for the provision of a borehole, clinic, vehicle and other facilities to the centre.
Lawal commended the association for the donation, saying that it would support efforts at rehabilitating the inmates.
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