Eight Babies and Nine Pregnant Inmates Discovered in Kirikiri Female Prisons in Lagos

Front view of the women's wing of the prison 

While leading officials on a welfare check to the popular Kirikiri prison in Lagos, the Director, Directorate of Citizens Rights (DCR) from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Omotilewa lbirogba, has disclosed on Thursday that eight babies are currently living in the Female Prison with their mothers, while nine inmates are pregnant.



According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the visit was part of ongoing efforts by the Lagos State Government to decongest the prisons.

Mrs. lbirogba, who revealed that there are currently 222 inmates in the prison, said: "Of the 222 inmates, 175 are awaiting trial, 43 convicted inmates, two inmates that are serving life sentences and two inmates who have been sentenced to death. "There are also eight babies residing in the prison with their mothers, while nine inmates are currently pregnant."

On the future of the eight babies, Mrs. Ibirogba explained that once the infants attain the age of 24 months, they would be taken away from their mothers and handed over to appointed relations to nurture them.

"Our findings revealed that a lot of the inmates already have legal representations and have been granted bail by the courts but have not been able to perfect their bail conditions. "There are plans by my directorate to provide free legal services to those whose cases are not going on well in the courts, while applications will be filed to vary bail conditions for those already granted bail by the courts.

"Contrary to what obtained in the past, the inmates looked neat, healthy, well fed and had no rashes on their bodies," she added. It was learnt that the team also donated some toiletries to the prison.