The Federal Government has freed 15 inmates from the Malumfashi Satellite Custodial Centre in Katsina on Saturday.
The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, disclosed during the event, saying the release was facilitated by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olabinmi Tunji-Ojo.
Nababa, represented by the Controller of Corrections, Katsina Command, Abdulmumin Haruna, said the inmates were those on minor offences.
“I commend the minister for this laudable initiative aimed at putting smiles on the faces of freed inmates.
“This is the first of its kind in the country and will go a long way in reducing overcrowding in custodial centers.
“This will consequently improve service delivery at the custodial centres in line with international best practice,” he said.
Nababa told inmates who did not benefit from the gesture not to see their incarceration as the end of life.
“You should instead, see it as an opportunity to turn a new leaf and obey the rules and regulations of the custodial centre,” he said.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of N10,000 each to the freed inmates to ease transportation to their respective homes.
