Kaduna Govt Frees 162 Inmates From Correctional Centre – – The Kaduna State Government has ordered the release of 162 inmates spread across different Correctional Centres in the state as part of efforts to reduce numbers in the centres and halt the spread of coronavirus among inmates.

A statement issued on Tuesday, 28th April, disclosed that 72 of the inmates were pardoned by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, while 90 inmates were released on bail by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Muhammadu Bello.

Governor El-Rufai appealed to the released inmates to make use of their freedom to engage in useful ventures and avoid anything that could lead them to crime.

In response, the Controller of Corrections in charge of the Kaduna Command, Sanusi Dan-Musa, thanked the governor for the gesture.

He urged the freed inmates to be of good conduct and to ensure they are productive and of positive impact on society.

The development comes just days after the state government announced a 30-day lockdown, as part of efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Some residents of Kaduna State, on Tuesday appealed to the state government to review the lockdown extension announced on Sunday.

The residents made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the state.

They lamented that many daily income earners are starving already as a result of the lockdown.

A trader, Garba Saidu, said that the government should look into other alternatives of preventing the spread of COVID-19 rather than the lockdown as palliatives were not reaching everybody.

“I’m not happy with the extension order despite the increase in the number of cases in the state; the government should kindly think of other alternatives because of the low-income earners.”

“How can we be locked down for almost two months? This is unfair.”

“Government should please look for other means of curbing the spread of the virus.”

“For example, people should be checked at the point of entry into the state or at worship places as well as banks,” he said.

Ummulkulthum Ahmed, an entrepreneur, suggested that people should be allowed to move within the state, while borders should be closed to any form of movement, rather than the lockdown.

She said that the wearing of face masks and social distancing should be made compulsory for all citizens and those found violating the order should be punished.

Abdulganiyyu Rayyan, a tailor, said that though he worked from home, he had neighbours who must go out before they earn money for their needs.

He said that people like them were not “the poorest of the poor” before the lockdown, but were now resorting to begging to survive.

He urged the government to distribute palliatives that would sustain families for the period of the lockdown, adding that “without that, it may be difficult for residents to obey the order.”