(Vanguard)
Head of the Sokoto Remand Home, Alhaji Dahiru Lawal, on Thursday said 13 inmates had escaped from the centre in the last two years due to the poor state of its facilities. Lawal disclosed this in Sokoto when he received a donation from an NGO, Housewives Initiative Development Association, He appealed to the Sokoto State Government to undertake massive rehabilitation of the centre which was in very deplorable condition.
Lawal said that the Home, which served as reformatory for convicted juveniles, required urgent government support, to enable it discharge its responsibility more effectively. The official said that the inmates were able to escape due to the poor state of facilities at the centre. “The inmates dug a hole under one of the windows of their cell and fled. It had been repaired and seven of them were re-arrested.
“Four of the escapees surrendered themselves to the court while two are still at large.” Lawal disclosed that the Home currently has sixteen inmates who were either jailed or placed on remand for offences ranging from armed robbery, theft, rape, sodomy, among others. The official, therefore, urged the state government to rehabilitate the facility “which is now in a serious state of dilapidation.”
He also solicited for the provision of a borehole, clinic, vehicle and other facilities to the centre. Lawal commended the association for the donation, saying that it would support efforts at rehabilitating the inmates. Earlier, Chairperson of the association, Mrs Hassana Dangaskiya said that the intervention by the group was to alleviate the suffering of the inmates.
She appealed to wealthy individuals and organizations to complement the efforts of the state government in funding the operations of the home. One of the inmates, Muhammad Sani commended the association for the gesture, saying,” we are happy that some people have remembered those of us living in this pitiable condition.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the association donated assorted foodstuffs, detergents and toiletries to the remand home.
