93% of Nigerian inmates are state offenders, many don't need jail: Interior Minister

Nigeria's Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has disclosed that a vast majority of inmates in the nation's custodial facilities are being held for state-level offenses. He stated that 93 percent of the inmate population falls into this category, with only 7 percent incarcerated for federal crimes.

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93 percent of inmates in Nigerian custodial facilities are state offenders, with only 7 percent held for federal offences.

Furthermore, Tunji-Ojo highlighted a significant issue within the correctional system: a substantial number of these inmates do not actually need to be in jail. This revelation points to potential overcrowding and inefficiencies within the system, suggesting that resources could be better allocated.

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a significant proportion of these inmates do not require incarceration

The minister also provided a striking statistic, revealing that 4,000 inmates were released in a single day. This large-scale release indicates a concerted effort to address the issues of non-essential incarceration and potentially decongest the overcrowded facilities. The focus is on reforming the system to ensure that only those who truly require incarceration are held.

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How we freed 4,000 inmates in one day