Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has secured the release of eight female inmates — including four pregnant women and nursing mothers — by paying their fines during an unscheduled visit to the Goron-Dutse Correctional Centre on Friday.
The intervention was part of a broader initiative to improve inmate welfare and address congestion in custodial centres across the state.
According to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Tofa, the visit aimed to assess prison conditions and explore support strategies for rehabilitation.
Governor Yusuf expressed concern over the high number of inmates awaiting trial.
Of the 1,939 inmates in the facility, only 382 had been convicted, while 1,536 remain on the awaiting trial list.
He emphasized the need to expedite judicial processes in collaboration with the state judiciary to reduce overcrowding.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to prison reform, the governor also directed the immediate provision of cows, foodstuffs, mattresses, blankets, and beverages to support the well-being of inmates.
Governor Yusuf later visited the Janguza Maximum Security Correctional Facility, where he announced plans to relocate inmates from the overcrowded Kurmawa Centre.
He praised the infrastructure at Janguza and encouraged inmates to reflect on their circumstances and embrace rehabilitation.
Inmates at both facilities expressed appreciation for the governor’s visit and his efforts to improve their living conditions.