Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Thursday, granted state and partial pardons to 66 inmates serving various prison terms at the Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre.
The governor also commuted death sentences to life imprisonment and reduced jail terms for other inmates.
He made the announcement during a visit to the facility as part of his engagements to mark the 2025 Democracy Day celebrations.
He stated that the decision followed recommendations from the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy and pledged continued support for the 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.
“I have also commuted death sentences to life imprisonment and reduced the jail terms of some other inmates as part of activities to celebrate this year’s Democracy Day,” he stated.
Governor Zulum further announced plans to strengthen the vocational training centre within the facility, providing intensive literacy, numeracy, and digital skills programmes for inmates.
“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.
Additionally, the governor donated 300 bags of rice, 50 jerrycans of cooking oil and five cows, along with a cash gift of N20,000 to each of the 1,280 inmates to improve their living conditions.