14-year-old detained in Kano prison cries for help
Abdullahi Surajo, aka Bolo, a 14-year-old boy languishing at Kurmawa Correctional Centre in Kano, has appealed to the state Governor, Abba Yusuf, to intervene and set him free.
The boy made the appeal when the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Muhammad Hussaini Gumel, visited the facility.
The commissioner is leading the Solicitors Scheme Advisory Committee set up by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun to track people detained illegally in prisons and police detention facilities.
During the visit, the team uncovered more than 300 awaiting trial inmates languishing in the custodial centre, without proper documentation of their cases.
The teenager told newsmen who accompanied the team, to “kindly help me tell Governor Abba Yusuf to help me out of this situation as I’ve been denied fair hearing and the right of access to justice”.
Bolo said he was detained for allegedly forcefully dispossessing a lady of her phone at Naibawa Quarters, Kano, in concert with others still at large.
“My condition is critical, deep inside me, I know I’m slowly dying here, and only the timely intervention of Governor Yusuf can save my life.
“I need the second chance opportunity to sincerely repent to Allah and apologise to my victims.
“I will turn a new leaf to enable me to contribute positively to the society. I’m the youngest here in this facility, I’ve spent a year, and couple of months here and because of absence of legal representations at the court, the authority hardly takes me to court again.
“Unfortunately, there is nothing reformatory in this facility; the senior boys are here, while the day-to-day life here is exposing one to hellish life.
“Ever since I was hounded here, I’ve been on one cloth, personal hygiene is something else, and of course no one cares, but the lesson of life is that I’ve cheated myself for getting involved in crime and criminality so early in life.
“It’s evident, life here isn’t pleasant, and to say it’s hell may not be far from the truth.”
