Francis Nwifuru, the Governor of Ebonyi State, gave 159 prisoners at the Abakaliki Custodial Center amnesty on Tuesday.
Indigenous members of the Effium Community who were detained due to the intracommunal conflict that has wreaked havoc on the area since 2021 are among those released.
The governor’s official visit to the Center included the release of the prisoners, who had been held for approximately four years.
Due to the crisis, which began as a dispute over who should run a local vehicle park but swiftly escalated into uncontrollable violence, hundreds of people have been killed and others have been displaced.
The governor’s amnesty, which will aid in the center’s decongestion, was praised by Mrs. Bessie Offem, the center’s controller.
The Medium Security Custodial Center Abakaliki’s congestion has become a critical security issue, she said.
She claimed that if this is not addressed immediately, it poses a major security risk to the state and could result in a riot, a jail break, or other security issues.
According to the governor, a seven-member group led by Bishop Nnachi Okoro made suggestions that were implemented in the amnesty.
The gesture is part of efforts to bring lasting peace to the troubled community, he said.
He urged the released prisoners to always embrace peace and to participate in initiatives aimed at bringing the community back to harmony.