December 23, (THEWILL) — The wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, has facilitated the release of 25 inmates from the Nigeria Custodial Centre in Abakaliki as part of her 2025 Yuletide prison outreach.
The inmates regained their freedom after the Governor’s wife paid their outstanding fines through her humanitarian arm, the BERWO Foundation, in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice.
The Controller of the Custodial Centre in the state, Angela Chika Igwugwu, described the visit as a rare show of compassion and motherly love.
She praised Nwifuru for sustaining the outreach as an annual tradition that restores hope and contributes to the reduction of crime through rehabilitation.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Ben Odoh, described Nwifuru as a beacon of hope for the less privileged.
He noted that many inmates remain in custody solely due to their inability to pay minor fines.
He further disclosed the level of congestion at the facility, stating that the Abakaliki Custodial Centre, originally built for 387 inmates, currently houses over 1,000.
Nwifuru stated that the outreach reflects her belief that no life is beyond redemption, stressing that justice must be balanced with compassion.
She emphasised that true correction goes beyond mere release to include empowerment and successful reintegration into the community.
She urged the freed inmates to embrace responsible living and called on families and communities to accept and support them.
She noted that restoration is only possible when society chooses compassion over rejection.
THEWILL reports that the visit concluded amid prayers and expressions of gratitude from the beneficiaries.
During the session, Catholic cleric Ifeanyi Ogodo urged the released individuals not to seek revenge as they reunite with their loved ones.
He further advised them to avoid any criminal acts that would lead them back to the custodial centre.
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