By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi.
Thirty-six Bauchi prison inmates, who the wife of the state Governor, A’isha Mohammed Abubakar recently facilitated their release and trained in various skills have received starter kits to enable them carry out the legitimate trades for self-reliance.
The items were donated to the freed inmates by wife of the Bauchi State governor, Barrister Aisha Mohammed Abubakar.
A’isha Mohammed Abubakar had some months ago secured the release of 42 inmates by paying their fines and enrolled them to a skills acquisition center to learn various skills out of which 36 graduated.
Speaking during the items presentation ceremony, the wife of the governor recalled that she secured the release of 42 inmates from various prisons across the state which include; Azare, Bauchi, Misau, Jama’are and Ningi prisons.
A’isha said that her decision was borne out of the desire to take up the challenge of de-congesting Nigerian prisons through the release of inmates with minor crimes and make them to become useful members of the society.
“These challenges gingered us to embark on a project that will contribute in addressing some of these challenges. Thus we started by facilitating the release of 42 inmates with minor crimes by settling their fines and compensation”, she said.
She however explained that out of the 42 inmates enrolled in the Skills Acquisition Centres, the 36 graduated, as three were withdrawn for not satisfying expectations, and another three sent back to prison after their graduation.
The 36 graduated inmates include 14 who were trained in Carpentry and Joinery, 11 trained in Welding and Fabrication, 5 in Computer Studies, 5 in Tailoring Services, 2 in Electrical Installations, and One each in Bricklaying and Masonry, and Catering and Event Decoration.
Bauchi State Comptroller of Prisons, Hassan A. Shema has during the graduation commended the governor’s wife for the gesture and help being extended to the inmates, as well as the prison authorities in the state.
He called on other well-meaning individuals in the state to do the same as, according to him, such gestures will help in the reformation of individuals who went through the prison to find a new life and become better citizens.
“It is worthy to note that prisons nowadays are not punishment grounds for offenders but correction centres where those in conflict with the law are being rehabilitated so that they can live a crime free and self-supporting life on discharge”, he said.
Also speaking, the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Ibrahim Yakubu Umar said that the state Justice system remains grateful to the governor’s wife over her various interventions at various times towards ensuring the welfare of inmates and securing the release of a number of them since the coming of the present administration led by her husband.
Also at the occasion was the Bauchi State Chief Justice, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar who commended the governor’s wife saying that her efforts in ensuring frequent release inmates with bail able offences through payment of fines and compensations will help a lot in decongesting prisons in the state.
The items donated to the graduating inmates include Welding Machines, Sewing Machines and other necessary working tools to all the graduating inmates.
A’isha Mohammed Abubakar later received a humanitarian excellence Award from the Prison Inmates Development Initiative, presented by its president, Mbami Iliya Sabka.
