NBS: Nation’s Prison Population Swells to 62,260

• 45,158 inmates awaiting trial countrywide
James Emejo in Abuja
The country’s overall prison population rose by 11.06 per cent to 62,260 inmates in 2015 compared to 56,059 inmates in the previous year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)  stated yesterday.

But a total of 45,158 inmates, representing 72.53 per cent of the prison population countrywide had not received their sentence during the period under reference.

Nonetheless, Lagos State recorded the highest prison population in the country with 6,522 inmates, while Kano and Rivers recorded population of 4,082 and 4,054 respectively in 2015.

In addition, Lagos also recorded the highest number of un-sentenced detainees at 5,603 in 2015 out of a prison population of 6,522.
This was followed by Rivers and Edo States with 3,625 and 2,434 un-sentenced detainees respectively for the period under review.

According to a report on the Number of Un-Sentenced Detainees and Overall Prison Population by State and Year (2011-2015), which was released by the statistical agency, Yobe and Borno States recorded the least numbers of un-sentenced detainees of 163 and 216 out of a prison population of 562 and 603 respectively.

The total number of un-sentenced inmates in the six geo-political zones was recorded at 45,158 inmates by 2015.

The South-south region accounted for the highest un-sentenced prisoners at 11,073 inmates followed by the South-west which recorded 10,687 and South-east at 7,946 inmates.

Others are North-west which accounted for 7,050 un-sentenced detainees; North central, 4,798 and North-east, 3,604 inmates.