There was a mild drama at the Kaduna Convict Prison on Saturday evening when Senator Shehu Sani visited Dr. John Danfulani, who is currently in detention for alleged making inciting Face Book comment.

Chanting of ‘Sai Kayi’, ‘Sai Kayi’, ‘Sai Comrade’, ‘Muna nan cikin prison saboda kai’, ‘Ka ci gaba da taimakon talakawa’ by inmates from all over the prison rent the air.

The visit was terminated by the prison security when many of the inmates made attempt to physically reach the Senator as he walk to Mr. Danfulani’s cell. The Senator could not see Mr. Danfulani because of the drama which trailed his visit in the company of some journalists.

While responding to the drama after donating food items to the inmates, Senator Sani said: “If you want to know if you are popular or not, please visit the prison.

“Let the message be relayed to him (Mr. Danfulani) that I dedicate my visit today to the prison for three reasons. One to see an old friend Dr. John Danfulani, the conscience of Southern Kaduna people, who was one of my visitors while I was in prison in 1993. Secondly, it is routine visit, I was here last year and I am back again to support them. Thirdly , to assure the Nigerian Prison Service that the National Assembly is doing everything possible to improve on prison condition in the country.”

Sani said a Bill is already in the National Assembly to ensure that prisons are places that serve as a place of integration and rehabilitation of convicts and not as factory that produces more criminals in the society.

He said Kaduna prison is a place where the likes of himself, Dr. Beko Ransom-Kuti and Wole Soyinka served their jail terms. Said he: “In fact, Wole Soyinka wrote his book ‘The Man Died’ while in Kaduna Prison.

“The prison system has not changed; it has been the same since 17 years ago. It is underfunded, no proper welfare for staff and inmates.”

Sani donated 10 bags of rice, five bags of sugar, four gallons of 25-litre groundnut oil, two cartons of soap and body cream.

While receiving the donation, Ahmed Usman, Deputy Controller of Prisons in charge of Kaduna convict prison, lamented that despite the frantic effort of government towards ensuring good treatment of offenders in prison, they are still faced with challenges of lack of drugs, mats, mattresses, toiletries and disinfectants.

The Deputy Controller who was represented by his 2i/c CSP Fatunmbi Sunday added: “As at today, we open out 1,283 while we are supposed to lock 547 inmates. These inmates are human beings that eventually became less privileged. Whereby their freedom has been ceased and they need special care.”

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows Senator Shehu Sani presenting food items for inmates of Kaduna Prisons.

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