Anambra: 532 juveniles languishing in prisons, says NHRC

BY: Ikenna Oluka

The Anambra State Coordinator of the NHRC, Mrs. Nkechi Ugwuanyi, has revealed that about 532 children are languishing in different prisons in Anambra State.

 She gave the revelation while interacting with some juvenile inmates in the Onitsha prison.

Ugwuanyi said the aim of the visit was to gather details of the inmates, whose alleged offences fall within the classification.

She said prisons most affected with such cases included Awka and Onitsha prisons with 523 inmates.

According to her, the visit was in commemoration of the African “Pre-Trial” Day 2019 themed: “Decriminalisation of Petty and Minor Offences”.

 She explained that “it’s on account of these offences that NHRC is propelled to undertake the visit.”

 The NHRC boss added, “The visit is to enable us make appropriate interventions toward the decongestion of prisons through advocacy for decongestion through decriminalisation of petty or minor offences.

“The number of juveniles cases recorded is quite high, but I assure you that inmates whose cases had been compiled would have reasons to smile at the end of the exercise.”