Photo: Radio Nigeria Archives
3,298 inmates across the custodial centres in Nigeria are on death row, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says.
Public Relations Officer of the service, Abubakar Umar who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja pointed out that death sentences were not always carried out immediately they were imposed.
“There are often long periods of uncertainty for the convicted while their cases are being appealed at higher levels.
“Inmates awaiting execution live on what we call death row; some offenders have been executed more than 15 years after their convictions.
“We have a total of 3,298 inmates on death row. They constitute about 4.5 per cent of the total of number inmates in our various custodial centres nationwide,” he disclosed.
Umar said that some Inmates on Death Row (IDRs) had been in custody for many years, adding that some had been there since they were arrested up to when they were tried and sentenced.
According to him, many of them committed capital offences like culpable homicide, armed robbery, terrorism, among others.
“Some of them, who do well and show some glimpse of hard work, industry and discipline, are recommended for clemency to the relevant authorities,” he said.
Writing by Muzha Kucha