National Telescope national telescope newspaper
A 14-year-old boy, Abdullahi Surajo, aka Bolo, detained at Kurmawa Correctional Centre in Kano, has begged the state governor, Abba Yusuf, to interfere and free him.
During the visit set up by the Inspector General of Police Mr. Kayode Egbetokun to the state correctional center, which was led by the state commissioner of police, Mr. Muhammad Hussaini Gumel, accompanied with the Scheme Advisory Committee.
Not fewer than 300 awaiting trial inmates languishing in the custodial center without proper documentation of their cases were discovered by the team, including the teenager.
Bolo narrates his ordeal as he was put behind bars for allegedly forcefully dispossessing a lady of her phone at Naibawa Quarters in concert.
While speaking to the newsmen who accompanied the team to the center, the teenager pleaded to help him beg the governor to help him out of his worsened situation.
“Please help me tell Gov. Abba Yusuf to help me out of this situation, as I’ve been denied a fair hearing and the right to access justice,” he laments.
“My condition is critical; deep inside me, I know I’m slowly dying here, and only the timely intervention of Governor Yusuf can save my life.
“I need the second chance to sincerely repent to Allah and apologize to my victims, and I will turn a new leaf to enable me to contribute positively to society.
“I’m the youngest here in this facility; I’ve spent a year and a couple of months here, and because of the absence of legal representations at the court, the authority hardly takes me to court again.
“Unfortunately, there is nothing reformatory in this facility; the senior boys are here, while the day-to-day life here exposes one to hellish life.
Bolo states that life behind bars is hell, as he regrets ever getting involved in crime in his early years.
“Ever since I was hounded here, I’ve been on one cloth; personal hygiene is something else, and of course no one cares, but the lesson of life is that I’ve cheated myself by getting involved in crime and criminality so early in life.
“It’s evident that life here isn’t pleasant, and to say it’s hell may not be far from the truth.
