50 Christian, Muslim prisoners released to clerics in Kaduna
Bishop Michael Jackson (left) is pictured with Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon (right) and the local Muslim Mahdi Shehu (centre) in St Christopher’s church hall, Kaduna, in the course of the NIFCON delegation visit
At least 50 Christian and Muslim prisoners serving various jails terms were at the weekend set free and handed over to Sheikh Abubakar Gumi and Rt. Rev.Josiah Idowu-Fearon, the Anglican Communion Bishop of Kaduna Diocese.
The inmates have their stay cut short by the chairman and chief executive officer of Dialogue Group, Dr. Mahdi Shehu, who paid their fines and as well gave each of them N5, 000 as transportation fares back to their homes and states of origin.
The event took place outside the Kaduna Convict Prisons on Independence Way, Kaduna, under tight security.
Gumi and Fearon on arrival around 9:20am proceeded to the prisons premises with Shehu and some lawyers from Kaduna state Ministry of Justice. After fulfilling legal procedures, the inmates were set free and handed over to the clerics who counselled and prayed for them before handing over the N5,000 each to them.
Gumi, who first spoke tasked them to really change and reciprocate the gesture by behaving well in the society. “Remember, Allah is watching us and we will give account to him,” he said.
Fearon, in his exhortation, advised them to change their ways and be good ambassadors irrespective of their religious beliefs.
“It is not really good to keep young people in prisons, we came here and see the situation and I decided to pay and hand them over to clerics so that their lives will change. It has significant again because Ramadan has started today and we are doing this to give them a positive future,” Shehu said.
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