As part of activities marking the 2027 Democracy Day celebration, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has secured the release of 12 inmates from the Koton-Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre by paying off their minor bail conditions.
The humanitarian gesture was carried out during a Democracy Day outreach programme led by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Honourable Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, who represented the state government at the correctional facility.
Addressing inmates and officials of the custodial centre, Anyebe said the visit was aimed at restoring hope and demonstrating that the dividends of democracy should be felt by every citizen, including those serving various terms of incarceration.
He explained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Kogi State Government remain committed to promoting inclusiveness, compassion and social justice, stressing that individuals behind bars should not be abandoned by society.
According to him, the 12 beneficiaries were inmates whose continued detention was due to their inability to meet minor financial bail conditions, noting that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development graciously settled the required fees to facilitate their release.
“This intervention is intended to give these individuals another opportunity to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society. Democracy is about hope, justice and giving people a second chance where possible,” the commissioner said.
Beyond facilitating the release of the inmates, the ministry also donated various skills acquisition materials to the correctional centre to strengthen vocational training programmes for inmates.
Anyebe urged the inmates to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire practical skills that would enable them to become self-reliant during and after their incarceration.
He further commended the management and personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service at Koton-Karfe for their dedication and professionalism in maintaining order and implementing rehabilitation programmes, assuring them of the state government’s continued support.
A counselling physician, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Jimoh, delivered a motivational lecture on value reorientation and character development, encouraging inmates to embrace positive attitudes and personal transformation.
Dr. Ayo-Jimoh emphasised that genuine rehabilitation begins with a change of mindset, urging the inmates to cultivate discipline, integrity, forgiveness and resilience while using their time in custody for self-improvement.
She reminded them that mistakes do not have to define the rest of their lives, adding that with determination and the right values, they could return to society as responsible and law-abiding citizens.
The Officer in Charge of the Koton-Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre, Superintendent Emmanuel Ishaya Dangana, expressed appreciation to Governor Ododo for the gesture, describing the visit as unprecedented and deeply encouraging for both the inmates and correctional personnel.
Dangana noted that the payment of bail conditions and donation of vocational materials would significantly boost ongoing rehabilitation efforts at the facility.
He said the intervention reflects the governor’s commitment to humane governance and correctional reforms, adding that the beneficiaries would forever remember the opportunity given to them to begin life afresh.
Representatives of various stakeholder groups, including government appointees, officials of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and executives of the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), also addressed the inmates.
They encouraged the inmates to remain hopeful, obey the rules of the custodial centre and embrace rehabilitation programmes designed to prepare them for successful reintegration into society.
Speaking on behalf of the inmates, their spokesperson expressed profound gratitude to Governor Ododo and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for the intervention.
The spokesperson described the governor’s gesture as one that had rekindled hope among inmates who had felt forgotten, saying the release of the 12 beneficiaries and the donation of empowerment materials had inspired many to believe in the possibility of a better future.
According to the inmates, the Democracy Day outreach demonstrated that government still cares about their welfare and rehabilitation, while challenging them to make positive changes that would justify the confidence reposed in them.
