Ihedioha orders AG to begin process of releasing juvenile prisoners

The governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has ordered the
Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Ndukwe
Nnawuchi, to begin the process of releasing children inmates in the
state correctional facilities.

Ihedioha, spoke when he declared open the Reformation and
Reorientation programme for juvenile offenders at the Owerri
Correctional Prison Service.

The governor said, “I thank God that I came here today and I
hope our visit here will touch your minds to become responsible
members of the society when you come out.

“I have directed the Attorney General of the state to liaise
with the officials of the Correctional Service to look into the
cases of the juvenile prisoners and advise government
appropriately. I would not hesitate in releasing any of them.

“The need to salvage our young ones from the dark clutches of
perpetual delinquency cannot be overemphasized.

“The youths are assets that must be nurtured, treasured and
harnessed for national development and I call upon the church,
faith-based and non-governmental organisations to lend their hands
in the efforts to make convicted offenders, especially the
juveniles among them, better members of society.”

Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on
Information and Advocacy, Adaora Onyechere, highlighted the
cardinal objectives of the Save Them Young programme which
according to her was centred on reformation, rehabilitation and
reintegration of juvenile offenders.

She said that action must be taken for the development of
appropriate correctional programmes like civic education, skills
acquisition, remand homes and other non-custodial facilities to
assist young offenders.