BY: NEWS EDITOR, JUNE 12, 2025/ 01:58PM

Sixty-six inmates have been granted state and partial pardon by Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum.

The pardons were announced on Thursday during the governor's visit to the Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre as part of the 2025 Democracy Day celebrations.

The inmates, who were granted pardons based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, will have their sentences reduced or commuted.

The governor has also commuted death sentences to life imprisonment and reduced jail terms for other inmates.

'Based on the powers conferred on me under Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, I hereby grant state and partial pardons to 66 inmates of the Maximum Custodial Centre,' Gov. Zulum declared.

In addition to the pardons, the governor also announced plans to strengthen the vocational training centre within the facility.

The centre will provide intensive literacy, numeracy, and digital skills programmes to enable inmates acquire valuable skills while serving their sentences.

'I have directed the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation to liaise with the management of Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre to enhance the vocational training centre, ensuring the provision of intensive literacy, numeracy and digital skills. This will enable inmates to acquire valuable skills while serving their sentences,' he said.

He also donated 300 bags of rice, 50 jerrycans of cooking oil, and five cows to the facility.

The governor also donated a cash support of N20,000 to each of the 1,280 inmates to improve their living conditions.

'Let me clarify that the N20,000 cash assistance will be handed over to officials of the Correctional Centre, as stipulated by law, but you will have access to it whenever needed,' he emphasised.

The Controller of Borno State Correctional Service, Ahmed Bawa, commended the governor for his unprecedented support to the facility and its inmates.

The Sarki of the inmates, Daniel Simon, also expressed gratitude to the governor for his magnanimity.