Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, has secured the release of eight female inmates from the Goron-Dutse Correctional Centre as part of a humanitarian initiative. Among those freed were two pregnant women and two nursing mothers, all jailed for minor offences but unable to pay their fines or compensation.
Governor Yusuf, during an unscheduled visit to the prison, personally covered all associated costs to ensure their release. He emphasized the need for compassion, especially for vulnerable women and children.
“These women, especially those carrying unborn children or caring for infants, deserve mercy and a second chance. No child should grow up behind bars,” the governor stated.
Accompanied by government officials, Yusuf inspected the facility and pledged to continue pushing for improved living conditions and broader prison reforms.
The governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, confirmed that the release aligns with the administration’s goal of rehabilitating and reintegrating inmates into society.
Governor Yusuf also expressed concern about overcrowding in prisons, revealing that out of 1,939 inmates at Goron-Dutse, only 382 had been convicted, while 1,536 await trial. He pledged collaboration with the judiciary to fast-track legal processes and reduce the pressure on correctional centres.
To ease congestion further, he announced plans to relocate inmates from the Kurmawa Correctional Centre to the more spacious and better-equipped Janguza Maximum Security Facility, which he visited the same day.
In addition, he ordered the supply of cows, food, mattresses, blankets, and beverages to improve inmates’ living standards.
