The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that Ogun, Rivers and Enugu states lead the list of states with the highest number of inmates on death row across custodial centres in the country.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Deputy Controller Abubakar Umar, stated that Ogun leads with 568 inmates sentenced to death, followed by Rivers with 504, Enugu with 328, Lagos with 314, and Delta with 256.
In contrast, he noted that Osun, Ebonyi, Oyo, Kogi, and Anambra have the lowest figures in the same category. “At the moment, Osun State has no death row inmates, while Ebonyi and Oyo have two each, Kogi three, and Anambra four,” Umar said.
He attributed the disparity in numbers to varying crime rates, differences in judicial processes, and the administrative actions of state governments, particularly regarding the signing of death warrants or approval of clemency.
Umar emphasised that managing inmates on death row continues to pose significant challenges to the Service. “It contributes to congestion and places financial pressure on the federal government,” he explained.
He also clarified recent misleading media reports that Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos have the highest number of death row inmates, describing such claims as inaccurate. “Recent data shows otherwise,” he stated.
According to him, the Service classifies inmates based on their legal status, which includes those on awaiting trial, short-term convicts, long-term convicts, lifers, inmates on death row, debtors, females, and juveniles.
“As of today, there are 3,833 inmates on death row nationwide, making up about five percent of the total prison population. Out of this number, 3,754 are male, while 79 are female,” he disclosed.
Overall, Nigeria’s custodial centres currently house 81,558 inmates. Of this number, 24,252 have been convicted, accounting for 29 percent, while 53,473 are awaiting trial, making about 66 percent of the inmates’ population.
“Among the convicted, 23,725 are male and 457 female. Awaiting trial inmates include 52,066 males and 1,407 females,” Umar added.
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