The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed that 3,298 convicts are on death row across Nigeria’s detention facilities.
Its Public Relations Officer, Mr Abubakar Umar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the term ‘condemned criminal’ had been dropped.
The term ‘condemned criminal’ was abolished with the passage of the NCoS Act 2019, which designated jails as correctional facilities, because it is stigmatizing, he stated.
He stated that the service preferred to refer to inmates on death row as ‘Inmates on Death Row (IDR)’.
He emphasized that death sentences are not usually carried out immediately after they are imposed.
“For the convicted, there are frequently long periods of uncertainty while their cases are appealed at higher levels.”
“Death row” refers to inmates awaiting execution; some perpetrators have been executed more than 15 years after their convictions.
“After being found guilty of capital offenses, they were basically awaiting the hangman’s noose in our detention centers.”
“We have a large number of them; as of today, we have 3,298 inmates on death row.” “They make up about 4.5 percent of the total number of inmates in our various custodial facilities across the country,” he revealed.
Umar stated that some IDRs had been detained for many years, and that some had been there from the time they were caught until they were convicted and condemned.
Many of them, he claims, committed capital offenses such as culpable homicide, armed robbery, and terrorism.
“The good news is that we are involving all of them in activities that will reform and modify their behavior.”
“The goal is to help them become better citizens of the country.”
“We also require them to participate in personal development programs such as anger management, civic education, and entrepreneurship.”
“Some of them who perform well and demonstrate some semblance of hard work, industry, and discipline are recommended for clemency to the appropriate authorities,” he stated.
According to the speaker, many IDRs were carried out prior to the development of human rights groups and organizations.
“At the moment, there is a moratorium on the execution of offenders.”
“Before the moratorium on IDR executions became widely known, IDR executions were carried out as and when they were due.”
“However, with the increasing activities of human rights groups, many governments are hesitant to sign death warrants for these offenders.”
“While it is still used, it is not as common as it once was.” The final IDR execution took place in Edo in 2016.
“We encourage state governors who are hesitant to sign death warrants to commute them into other sanctions.”
“This will ensure that they are no longer wearing the toga of death.” It will also assist us in appropriately managing them,” he said.
