Not fewer than 58 convicts who are of Benue State origin are on death roll in Jos prison, Plateau state.
The discovery was made when the Benue State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, visited the Jos Correctional Center in Plateau State, last weekend, on a fact finding mission at the instance and funding by Governor Samuel Ortom.
Addressing the inmates, the Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa, stated that the council would look at their cases and make recommendations to the governor for necessary action.
He stated that by law, it is the governor that has the powers to grant them clemency.
He advised those that will be lucky to be pardoned not go back to their criminal ways and charged them to become useful to their family and the society at large.
Earlier, the Controller of Plateau State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Samuel Aguda disclosed that 58 convicts from Benue State are on death roll waiting for the hangman of the Jos Correctional Center.
Mr. Aguda stated that most of the convicts have shown good behaviour while serving their jail terms and were pleading for clemency.
He appealed to the Governor to forgive the convicts to reduce tension and decongest the facility.
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Also speaking, the Welfare Officer, Jos Correctional Center, Chief Superintendent Victoria Datti, disclosed that inmates from Benue State have shown exceptional good conduct while serving their jail terms.
She pointed out that even during the recent jail break, inmates from Benue State did not participate in the illegal action and further appealed to the Benue State governor to pardon all the convicts from the state.
The Welfare Officer commended Governor Samuel Ortom for sending the Council on prerogative of Mercy to visit the Jos Correctional Center to see the convicts from Benue State awaiting execution and called for its sustenance.
One of the convicts, Solomon Kuha, who became an evangelist while at the Correctional Center thanked Governor Ortom for sending the council to visit them and appealed to the state to forgive them as they changed and embraced a new life.
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocess Makurdi, Bishop Nathan Inyom, and the Chief Imam of Makurdi, Umar Shuaibu who are members of the Council prayed for the convicts to change and become useful to their family and the society.
