Abdullahi Surajo, ‘Bolo’, has made an appeal to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano, north west Nigerian state, asking for clemency, saying that he is slowly dying in prison where he has been confined in the last one year.
Bolo was arrested and locked up in prison while he was 13 years old, a juvenile by Nigerian law.
To compound the matter, the boy alleges that his case is still undecided because he had no access to legal representation.
Bollo’s matter came to public attention after a midweek visit to the prison by the a police special task force attached to Nigeria’s Inspector General’s office by the name Police Duty Solicitors Scheme.
” Tell our governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf to help me out of this hell at the centre of the city because I’ve been denied access to justice,” the boy prisoner said.
He admits that he in concert with others at large forcefully dispossessed a lady of her phone at Naibawa Quarters, Kano.
He explained tearfully, “my condition as you can see is critical.
“Deep inside me, I know I’m slowly dying here, and only the timely intervention of our governor can save my life.
“I need an opportunity to sincerely repent to Allah, and as well apologies to my victims.
“I want to turn a new leave,” he pleaded.
Life before prison Bolo appears to have been hellish too.
According to him, he is orphaned.
” I live with my uncle with my siblings, alongside 33 other members of the extended family where I was exposed to depravity, and excruciating poverty amidst dwindling revenue of our uncle who retired from public service last year,” he narrated.
“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, authority hardly take me to court again.
“Unfortunately, there is nothing reformatory in this facility, the senior boys are here, while the day to day life here exposes one to hellish life,” Bolo said.