Kwara govt frees 101 inmates to stem spread of COVID-19

The Kwara State government led by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has granted executive pardon to no fewer than 101 prisoners in the state in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Adebisi Francis, the state Comptroller of Correctional Services, who confirmed the release of the inmates on Friday, disclosed that 83 among the total beneficiaries were released outrightly.

He also added that the release of the inmates followed the Federal government’s directive on the de-congestion of prisons as part of the strategies to curb the transmission of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

READ ALSO: EFCC returns recovered N200m looted funds to Kwara State

Speaking further, Francis disclosed those who had served 75 percent of their jail terms, and those with health challenges and aged inmates were among the pardoned inmates.

He said that the state government has given the freed inmates a second chance, hence they should reciprocate the gesture by contributing their quotas to the society.

This comes days after the Kwara State government on Thursday imposed a total lockdown on the state.

The directive which is aimed at checking the spread of coronavirus in Kwara State, according to the state deputy governor, Kayode Alabi, takes effect from Friday.

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