Kaduna governor frees 97 inmates, offers cash grants

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani marked Democracy Day by granting clemency to 97 inmates at the Kaduna Correctional Centre. The governor also announced cash grants and vocational training opportunities for the beneficiaries, aiming to facilitate their reintegration into society.

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Democracy Day provides an opportunity to honour the sacrifices of those who struggled for the restoration of democratic governance and to renew our commitment to the ideals of justice, freedom and national unity.

Sani stated that the clemency exercise, conducted under the constitutional Prerogative of Mercy, involved outright releases, sentence commutations, and fine payments for eligible inmates. He emphasized the importance of redemption and second chances while upholding justice.

To support the former inmates' rehabilitation, Sani announced cash grants for all beneficiaries and offered them admission into state-owned vocational training institutes. He highlighted that this initiative aims to equip them with practical skills for self-reliance and positive societal contribution.

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While justice must be upheld, we must never lose sight of the transformative power of redemption and the importance of second chances.

The governor also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community members to support the reintegration of the freed inmates, stressing that successful rehabilitation requires collective societal support. Additionally, he approved the donation of a utility bus and medical equipment to the Nigerian Correctional Service, Kaduna State Command, to improve correctional services.

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Successful rehabilitation requires collective societal support. We must all play our part in ensuring that those who have served their time are allowed to rebuild their lives.