The Nigeria Correctional Service says it has no fewer than 125 inmates on death row in its facilities in Gombe and Bauchi states.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported on Sunday that NCoS officials confirmed this while responding to a survey by the agency on the death penalty in Gombe and Bauchi.

The agency quoted the Controller of Corrections in Gombe, Mr Lawal Gusau, as saying that the Service has 94 inmates comprising 93 males and one female on death row in its facility in the state.

He said the inmates were awaiting execution of the death penalty.

According to him, there are 1,692 inmates in the state as of February 28, 2023.

He said 94 of the 1,692 inmates were on death row and seven lifers while 770 are convicted inmates and 821 awaiting trial.

In Bauchi, about 31 inmates on death row are awaiting execution in the state.

The Statistics Officer, NCoS, Bauchi State Command, DSC Abdullahi Usman, said the 24 inmates comprised 22 males and two females.

He said that seven males of the 24 inmates were awaiting execution by stoning.

“Most of the inmates on death row in Bauchi are not indigenes of the state; they were brought in from other states.

“This is as a result of apprehension and pressure from the inmates’ family when incarcerated in facilities domicile in their state of origin,” he said.

He said the Service was awaiting Executive Order by the respective state governments before executing as passed by courts of competent jurisdiction.

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