A non-governmental organisation, the National Unity Forum, on Sunday freed two inmates and donated items worth N200,000 to the Niger State Medium Security Prison and an orphanage home, both in Minna, Niger State.
The two inmates – Adamu Iliyasu and Ismaila Sani – who were set free, were convicted by a Sharia Court in Kpakungu and a Magistrate Court in Paiko and fined N10,000 and N2,000 respectively.
Owing to their inability to pay, they have remained in prison.
It was these sums the NGO had to offset to secure their freedom.
The Chairman of the NGO, Mallam Uba Ibrahim, during interaction with the inmates, expressed shock at the number of youths found in the prison.
Ibrahim charged them to turn a new leaf after their jail term, as this should be reformation for a better life.
He said: “I never expected to see this number of youths I saw today.
“We sympathised with you all as leaders of tomorrow.”
He also commended the cordial and harmonious relationship exhibited by the prisoners and the officers in charge.
The leader of the inmates, ‘Sarkin Gida’, as he is popular called, who is at his late 50s, said: “Our being here is to gain experience, which is the best teacher, because this is where you can see the poor and rich living together in one room.
“The government should create employment for the youths and establish vocational centres to end idleness in our country.
“It is only in Nigeria you can see a man with 10 jeeps and his neighbour has no food to eat.
“Please advice those in authority to change the system.”
Other inmates expressed reservation over the way and manner innocent souls are being sentenced to jail in Nigeria.
One of them said: “Many of us here are innocent of offences for which we were charged.
“Please sustain your visits because some of us have spent here 30 years, 20 years, others less.”
Assistant Comptroller of Prisons Abdullahi Madaki, who thanked the NGO for the kind gesture, assured the visitors of judicious use of the items with fear of God.
The prison as at the time of visit had 298 inmates, with two female awaiting trial.
The donation consist of mats, clothes, slippers, soaps and body cream as well as kettles.
At the state government’s orphanage home, the NGO donated food items to the orphans.
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