Have mercy on us, prisoners beg for parole

Some prisoners serving various prison sentences in Abeokuta, Ogun State, are begging for parole from the government.

The prisoners, who had served between 12 and 19 years, said the parole would enable them to have a second chance in life.

They promised that if the authorities could show them compassion, they would turn over a new leaf, stressing that they had learnt a lot of lessons since their incarceration.

In an Save Our Souls letter smuggled out of prison, a copy of which was made available, the prisoners simply said, “Have mercy on us. When we are released, we will be useful to ourselves and to the society.”

The letter was endorsed by 19 prisoners from Oyo, Ogun and Ondo states, serving out their sentences at Abeokuta Prison.

The names of the prisoners from Oyo State and years they have served, according to letter are Abass Owonikoko (19 years), Akeem Olaniyi (19) ,Adeyinka Adedeji (18), Seun Fadina (18), Samuel Okpabi (17), Adedeji Taiwo (17), Dele Akinyele (17), Abdullahi Garuba (18), and Muhammed Abass (18).

Those from Ogun are Lookman Osetola, Fatai Tijani, Sunday Adeoye, Kabiru Sowemimo and Gboyega Ojerinde – all have served 17 years each.

The prisoners from Ondo State are Ayodele Ikuemoneghan (17), Timilehin Ifaranmaye (17), Sunday John (17), Sunday Eweje (17), and Kunle Alo (12).

The letter, however, failed to indicate the offences they committed before they were convicted.

The prisoners SOS reads, “We want to bring it to the notice of authorities that we are prisoners from South-West. Our governors have refused to release us after we have spent between 10 and 19 years in prison.

“We have all being reformed by the prison authorities here (Abeokuta Prisons) so that whenever we are released, we will be useful to ourselves and to the society.

“Most of us have learnt different types of work such as barbing, welding, cobbling and carpentry in which we have obtained our certificates from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

“Some of us have even studied and graduated from Quaranic and Bible courses, while some are in third year at the Yewa Central College of Education.

“We want the concerned authorities to look into our matter and grant us freedom.”

A Muslim cleric, Nurain Ibitoye, urged the government to have compassion on the prisoners.

He said from observation, the prisoners had repented of their criminal ways.

Ibitoye, a member of The Muslim Congress of Nigeria, said, “We usually go to the prison on Thursdays and Fridays for Dawah (preaching). For five years, we have been going there. I can tell you that they have learnt their lessons. I appeal to the government to have compassion on them by letting them of the hook.”