Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has pardoned 4013 correctional centre inmates within the eight years of his administration.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, to announce the pardon of 43 inmates serving jail terms in an occasion to commemorate the Eid-el-fitr at Goron Dutse custodial facility, said his government had also within the eight years settled fines and compensations for inmates to the tune of N4.9m.
While stressing that freedom is everything to human life, he called on the pardoned inmates to exhibit good character wherever they find themselves in society.
The controller of the correctional service in the state, Suleiman Muhammad Inuwa, said the gesture of the state government was expected to assist in decongesting the facilities and ensuring peaceful atmosphere.
He appealed to other states to emulate the gesture and urged the beneficiaries to be law abiding citizens by displaying good behaviour.
Chairman of the council on Prerogative of Mercy, Abdullahi Garba Rano, thanked the governor for exercising the powers conferred on him by the Constitution to release the inmates.