By The Adamawa State Muslim Council has donated food and non-food items to inmates at the Yola, Jimeta and Yolde Pate Correctional Centres and facilitated the release of six inmates across the three facilities.
The donations, carried out separately at the correctional centres on Thursday, formed part of the council’s humanitarian activities to support inmates during the last ten days of Ramadan.
Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the Adamawa State Muslim Council, Alhaji Gambo Jika, said the gesture was aimed at identifying with inmates during the holy month.
He noted that the last ten days of Ramadan are spiritually significant for Muslims, as prayers offered during the period are believed to receive special attention from Almighty Allah. He therefore urged inmates to intensify prayers, repent and seek forgiveness so they could return to society as responsible citizens after serving their jail terms.
Alhaji Jika expressed concern over the growing number of young people in correctional facilities and advised youths to avoid criminal activities for the good of society.
He also encouraged the inmates to pray for peace, unity and stability in the country.
The chairman further appealed to judges across the state to ensure fairness and transparency when delivering judgments, particularly in cases involving minor offences.
He also called on wealthy individuals and philanthropists to visit correctional centres and support inmates in order to help them feel a sense of belonging.
In their separate remarks, the Officer-in-Charge of the Yola Correctional Centre, SCS Kasam L. Nentok, and representatives of the Jimeta and Yolde Pate Correctional Centres, CSC Ahmed Tamtum Hardawa and DSC Lukong Steven, expressed appreciation to the Adamawa State Muslim Council for the gesture.
They noted that the support would go a long way in assisting inmates and encouraged other individuals and organisations to emulate the council’s efforts in providing support to correctional facilities.
Some of the released inmates also expressed gratitude to the council for facilitating their freedom and pledged to be law-abiding citizens and good ambassadors in society.
Items donated by the council included bags of rice, sugar, seasoning cubes and blankets.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Muslim Council also hosted a Ramadan Iftar with members of People Living with Disabilities at the council’s headquarters on Thursday.
During the Iftar gathering, the council’s leadership presented Sallah packages to the beneficiaries, including wrappers and clothing materials, as part of efforts to support vulnerable members of the community during the festive period.
