The Nigerian Correctional Service has disclosed that a total of 25,679 inmates were sentenced to non-custodial services in the Federal Capital Territory in five years.
The introduction of non-custodial service into the operations of the NCoS was as a result of the NCoS Act, 2019.
The Act established the Nigerian non-custodial service under Part II, providing for its functions, power to make regulations and guidelines, and allowing for parole, probation, community service, restorative justice measures and any other non-custodial measure.
The non-custodial service directorate is present in the six Area Councils of the FCT to carry out any of the measures as decided by a competent court of jurisdiction.
The NCoS spokesperson, FCT Command, Adamu Duza, made this known on Tuesday, while speaking to newsmen in Abuja.
Duza said: “The total offenders convicted to non-custodial services from 2019 till date is 25,679.”
He disclosed further that during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, “we supervised over 21,000 offenders in FCT alone.
“Imagine if these numbers were sent to our facilities, it would have caused overcrowding and possible health hazards, too.”
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The spokesperson equally condemned the stigmatising of offenders by the public when they are released, saying: “The public stigmatises the offenders, not minding the reformatory processes they have passed through.”
While lamenting over the poor cooperation with the non-custodial service, Duza called on all government agencies, community leaders and religious leaders, among others, to support the non-custodial service of the NCoS for the safety of Nigeria.
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