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Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Monday visited?Maiduguri Maximum Prison to felicitate with the inmates as part of?Sallah celebration.
The governor who was accompanied by government officials presented foodstuff and other items to inmates of the prison.
The items included 50 bags of rice, 100 bags of millet, 100 bags of Semovita and 100 cartons of Spaghetti.
He also presented two large cows to the inmates.
?Shettima said the food items were given to enable the inmates to celebrate Sallah.
“Our visit is aimed at felicitating with the inmates as we celebrate the Sallah.
“The essence is to come down here to celebrate with you as we did outside,'' he said.
The governor, who lamented the large number of inmates that were awaiting trial, promised to take urgent action.
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He noted that keeping an accused in jail for years while awaiting trial “is unfair’’.
Shettima said the government had appointed 18 new judges to ensure smooth administration of justice, adding that they ?comprised eight high court judges and 10 magistrate judges.
He said the government had also set up a committee to find ways of reviewing cases of?inmates who had genuine cases.
He appealed to the inmates to help pray for peace to return to the state as the current security challenge was negatively affecting the state.
“I want to make special appeal to all of you here to help in offering prayers to God for peace to return to Borno.
“We believe your prayers can help us to overcome the security challenges facing us.’’
Earlier, AlhajiYusuf Garba, the Deputy Comptroller of Prison in charge of the facility, thanked the governor for the visit.
Garba appealed to the state government to assist in erecting security walls around the prison to prevent attacks. (NAN)