It was jubilation at the Awka Correctional Centre, Anambra state command of the Nigerian Correctional Service following the release of five inmates at the facility by a non-governmental organization, the ABU Foundation.
The founder of the organisation, Chief Maduaburochukwu Attah, had secured the release of the inmates, who had been standing trial for minor offences, and took them out of the facility after perfecting their bail conditions.
The foundation also presented the freed inmates with cash support and undertook to assist them in starting any gainful means of livelihood to ease their reintegration into society.
Speaking separately to newsmen on Friday, the visibly excited ex-inmates vowed not to be involved in any vices capable of returning them back to the facility.
The freed inmates, Chidozie Ikile, Chikwube Obiagu, Ebuka Afoba, Izuchukwu Nwosu, and Ozodo Uchechukwu described the Centre as ‘hellfire’, praying to God to bless the foundation for making their freedom possible.
While screaming for joy following the impromptu nature of their release, Afoba said: “We’re grateful to the Foundation for what they did for us. We pray to God to reward their labour of love towards us.
“We promise to reciprocate the gesture by staying away from anything that will bring us back to this hellfire.”
Deputy Controller of Corrections, Rev Solomon Uba, commended the foundation’s efforts towards the facility, noting that its contributions have given the inmates a sense of belonging.
Uba, represented by Officer N.O Harford charged the inmates to abstain from any kind of crime that would warrant their return to the facility.
The NGO’s founder, Attah said the gesture was consistent with what he had been doing through the Foundation over the years to ameliorate hardship faced by the poor and downtrodden in the society.
Attah, a real estate mogul and transporter said the job of lifting people from poverty should not be left as the sole responsibility of government.
He said: “It is also the duty of every well-to-do individual to always assist the less privileged people around them.
“What you see today is an offshoot of our Foundation’s activities aimed at touching lives.
“This has been on for the past six years we incorporated this foundation and I will continue to do it as God blesses me.”
On her part, Zone 13 PPRO, SP Josephine Ihunwo urged the freed inmates to be good ambassadors to their families, communities, states, and the country at large.
She described Attah as a friend of the zonal command of the Nigeria Police, arguing that empowering freed inmates would not only assist in turning their faces away from crime and engaging in gainful ventures but would assist the crime-fighting efforts of the police.
The foundation also donated packs of toiletries and cartons of sausage rolls to the correctional facility.