A group has called on Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the release of Minors from all federal prisons in the country.
The group known as Hospital and Prison Welfare Initiative (HPWI) did not give a statistics on numbers of minors being detained in correctional centres across the Africa’s most populous nation. It, however, declared that prisons in Nigeria are congested calling on the government to, as a matter of urgency, declare war on the Congestion of the Nigeria Prisons, especially during Covid-19.
The group said In the declaration of war on prison congestion, “we are calling the Nigeria President, Mohammed Buhari GCFR to release a circular through the General Controller of Prisons for the release of minors under the age of 18 years from all Federal Prisons in Nigeria.”
The group in a statement by its Founder, Dr. Nathaniel Oyinloye, also said that the government needs to do more to support individuals not convicted, but awaiting trail during Covid-19.
“We (HPWI) as an organization believes that enough is not done to support individuals that are not convicted but awaiting trials during this Covid-19′
“As a result, we are calling on the President of the Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammed Buhari and the Governor’s of the 36 States in Nigeria, to declare War on the Congestion of the Nigeria Correctional Services (Prisons),” he said.
It also called on the 36 state governments to follow suit by releasing all vulnerable people who have not committed any capital offence and are merely awaiting trial.
“We are also calling on the 36 Governors of Nigerian States to release every vulnerable men and women in Custody who has not committed capital offences that are awaiting trials.”
