Innocent Onoh
Over 2,000 inmates of the Male and Female Custodial Facility in Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos, have been given a sense of belonging as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) donated items to enable them to celebrate Eid-El-Fitri.
The NGO, Ngene Umuoji Foundation, which focuses on elevating the living conditions of street people, especially youths, donated the items at the correctional facilities amid prayers and praises led by the excited inmates.
As of the NGO’s visit, the Maximum Prison had 2,121 inmates, while the Female Custodial Facility had over 300 inmates.
The donated items included cooked rice, uncooked rice, footwear, soap, soft drinks, perfume, biscuits, cleaning materials, and cash.
Members of the NGO also supported a music album produced by the inmates.
The CEO of the foundation, Chief Chuka Christian Mekaowulu, advised the inmates to take advantage of the empowerment and educational opportunities provided to build themselves for a more productive life after regaining their freedom.
He emphasized that their gesture was to spread love and affection to fellow Nigerians in need in the spirit of the Sallah Celebration.
“We are in the mood for Sallah celebration. We want to show love to our fellow Nigerians in prison and celebrate the beautiful Sallah season with them.
“Some of them have really stayed here for too long, so visiting them in this manner will go a long way in giving them a sense of belonging.
“Some of them are truly guilty and deserve what they are going through, but some are innocent; they did not have someone to speak for them and are simply being intimidated by persons higher than them.
“My advice to them is to be patient; when the time comes, divine upliftment will come for them. As we have seen, most are awaiting trial, while the rest have been convicted. God will see them through,” he said.
Chief Mekaowulu commended the inmates for their positivity and advised them to resolve to be better persons to avoid returning to prison.
He urged them to coexist peacefully and collaborate, regardless of their religions.
He also advised Nigerian youths to work hard and obey the laws to avoid prison.
“My advice to the youths in general is for them to be law-abiding citizens. In this world, there are two greatest powers – God and government. If any of them hit you, you will not get yourself.”
Chief Mekaowulu wished Nigerian Muslims a happy Sallah and encouraged them to celebrate moderately given the economic situation, even as he acknowledged efforts by the government to make the country better.
“Things may be rough at times, but even in those rough times, we should always maintain our cool in order not to fall into trouble. The country is tough at the moment, but I want to stress the fact that things have been rough in the country for a long time. The hardship was not created by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I believe that the president is really working for the good of Nigerians. We are already beginning to see the signs of the good things being done by the president to make the country better. For instance, it’s only in this regime of Tinubu that the price of fuel would go up and come down. In the past, whatever went up never came back. So, the president is trying. We just have to support him to complete eight years. Let’s be patient with him, and I believe we will be happier in the long run.”
An executive member of the NGO, Mr. Charles Albert, implored the inmates to accept their situations in good faith, while trusting in the power of God for the freedom.
According to him “What I witnessed today touched my heart. When the prisoners begged that they needed freedom, I felt so emotional. If I had a way to see the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, or even the president, I would have pleaded to them on their behalf. But since I don’t have that privilege, all I can do is encourage them to be patient. I hand their case over to God, who alone has the supreme power to make the impossible possible. I pray that God will see them through.”
The inmates, including 1,006 awaiting trial, begged the visitors to be their voices in appealing for their freedom.
They claimed some had spent 20-30 years in prison, but had learned their lessons and changed for the better.
They said that most of them had also acquired skills , while some had gone to school up to the Master’s Degree level as made possible by the prison authority.
The inmates begged the public to be merciful and accept them when they are released.