SOKOTO PRISON INMATES APPEAL FOR JUSTICE AND TRAINING DURING BISHOP KUKAH’S CHRISTMAS VISIT

During his annual Christmas pastoral visit, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah spent hours listening to the appeals of inmates at the Sokoto Correctional Facility this past Thursday. The Director of Communications for the Sokoto Diocese, Fr. Pascal Salifu, provided details of the event in a statement.

Bishop Kukah, leading a delegation of clergy and lay faithful, was received by the facility’s Controller. He then conducted separate, lengthy sessions with male and female detainees. Inmates shared their struggles, with many asserting their innocence and describing lengthy pre-trial detentions. They passionately appealed to the Bishop to intercede with federal authorities for pardons or official reviews of their legal cases.

A spokesperson for the inmate population further requested enhanced living conditions and greater access to skill acquisition and vocational programs. Such training, they argued, is crucial for successful reintegration into society after release. Bishop Kukah urged those in custody to view the period as one for personal transformation. He made a direct pledge to the assembly, stating, “I assure you of my commitment to engage relevant professionals responsible for correctional care and to advocate with government authorities on your behalf, especially in cases involving claims of innocence.”

The visit ended with prayers and messages of hope. Salifu emphasized that the Church’s mission includes standing with society’s forgotten members. According to the communications director, the encounter left inmates with a renewed sense of hope for the Christmas period. Fr. Pascal Salifu concluded that the pastoral outreach underscores the diocese’s ongoing commitment to pastoral care and justice.