3,590 prisoners on death row in Nigerian prisons, NCoS report says

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that 3,590 inmates are currently on death row across detention centres in the country.

Abubakar Umar, Public Relations Officer of NCoS and Assistant Comptroller of Corrections (ACC), made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday. Umar reported that as at September 3, 2024, the total inmates were 84,741, including 82,821 males and 1,920 females.

Among the total inmate population, there are 57,750 Awaiting Trial Prisoners (ATI), consisting of 56,303 males and 1,447 females. Convicted prisoners number 21,900, with 21,519 males and 381 females, while life prisoners number 1,501, including 1,478 males and 23 females. The death row population consists of 3,517 males and 73 females, bringing the total to 3,590.

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Umar acknowledged the challenges posed by the high number of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) and assured that steps were being taken to address it, including timely judicial processes. He noted that recent initiatives, supported by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, have resulted in the release of 4,063 persons who paid fines or compensation.

NCoS also addresses overcrowding through the construction of new facilities, expansion of community sentencing, improvements to court logistics, and other crowding reduction measures. Partnerships with other agencies have improved security and operational outcomes, with no reported internal disruptions.

Umar highlighted improvements in the treatment of prisoners, particularly in the reform and rehabilitation programmes, and noted significant progress in education. As at 31 August 2024, 1,282 prisoners were registered at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) specialised study centres. Of these, 1,215 were pursuing Bachelor of Science degrees, 62 were pursuing Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees, and five were pursuing Doctor of Philosophy degrees, with three currently writing their theses.

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