By According to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), there are 3,298 prisoners in Nigeria’s prisons who are on death row.
But, the company’s public relations officer, Mr. Abubakar Umar, told Newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja that the term “condemned criminal” has been abolished.
But because of the increased actions of human rights organizations, many governments are reluctant to approve the execution warrants for these criminals.
“While it is still used, it is less frequent than it once was. In Edo, the latest IDR execution took place in 2016.
“We commutate death warrants into other sanctions and urge state governors who hesitate to sign them to do so.
“This will make sure that they are freed from the toga of death. That will also assist us in effectively and efficiently managing them, he added.
According to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), there are 3,298 prisoners in Nigeria’s prisons who are on death row.
But, the company’s public relations officer, Mr. Abubakar Umar, told Newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja that the term “condemned criminal” has been abolished.
The word “condemned criminal” was abolished with the passing of the NCoS Act 2019 because it is stigmatizing and turned jails into correctional facilities, he said.
He claimed that the organization prefers to refer to inmates on death row (IDR) in a more cordial manner.
He emphasized that death sentences were not usually carried out right away after being handed down.
The convicted frequently experience protracted periods of uncertainty while their cases are challenged at higher levels.
“Death row inmates reside on what is known as death row; some criminals were executed more than 15 years after their convictions.
When they were found guilty of death crimes, they were essentially waiting for the hangman’s noose in our detention facilities.
We currently have 3,298 prisoners on death row, so we have quite a few of them. They make up around 4.5% of all the prisoners housed in our different detention facilities across the country, he revealed.
Some IDRs, according to Umar, have been detained for a long time, from the time of their arrest up until their trial and sentencing.
He said that several of them had committed crimes punishable by death, including culpable homicide, armed robbery, and terrorism, among others.
The good news is that we involve everyone in activities designed to change and adapt their behaviors.
“The objective is to improve them as citizens of the country.
“We also need students to participate in personal development programs like entrepreneurship, civic education, and anger management.
He claimed that some of them who perform well and exhibit some evidence of grit, perseverance, and discipline are suggested for clemency to the appropriate authorities.
The representative claimed that prior to the expansion of the operations of human rights groups and organizations, numerous IDRs had been carried out.
“At the moment, there is a semblance of a moratorium on capital punishment.
“IDR executions were carried out as and when due prior to the general implementation of the ban on IDR executions.
But because of the increased actions of human rights organizations, many governments are reluctant to approve the execution warrants for these criminals.
“While it is still used, it is less frequent than it once was. In Edo, the latest IDR execution took place in 2016.
“We commutate death warrants into other sanctions and urge state governors who hesitate to sign them to do so.
“This will make sure that they are freed from the toga of death. That will also assist us in effectively and efficiently managing them, he added.
