(DDM) – A civil rights group has appealed to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently address prison congestion across the state.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the appeal was made by the Young Nigerian Rights Organization in a statement issued in Warri.
The group’s lead activist, Comrade Victor Ojei, popularly known as Wong Box, highlighted the urgent need for reforms in Delta’s justice system.
He noted that overcrowding in custodial centres has become a pressing human rights concern.
According to him, the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022 already empowers judges to impose non-custodial sentences.
These alternatives include reformative punishments such as probation, community service, and counselling for minor offenders.
Ojei stressed that exposing petty offenders to hardened criminals inside overcrowded prisons only worsens the crime situation.
He warned that such conditions breed further criminality rather than fostering rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
The activist advised Governor Oborevwori to activate probationary frameworks and expand community service options across Delta State.
He also called for the governor to exercise the Prerogative of Mercy more frequently.
This constitutional power allows governors to grant pardons, amnesty, or sentence reductions for deserving inmates.
Ojei argued that such measures would restore fairness and humanity to the penal system.
He emphasized that justice should focus on reform and rehabilitation, not simply punishment and incarceration.
Civil society groups have repeatedly raised alarms about prison congestion in Nigeria.
According to official records, more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s prison population consists of awaiting trial inmates.
Many are held for minor offences that could have been addressed through bail or non-custodial alternatives.
Human rights activists warn that poor prison conditions violate international standards and worsen social inequality.
Delta State, with growing urban centres like Warri and Asaba, has seen increasing prison admissions linked to petty crimes.
Observers note that prison congestion also strains resources, making it difficult to provide healthcare and basic welfare for inmates.
The Young Nigerian Rights Organization insists that adopting reform-focused measures would ease pressure on custodial centres.
It also believes that fairer sentencing would strengthen public trust in the state’s judicial system.
Governor Oborevwori has yet to issue a public response to the appeal.
However, stakeholders expect his administration to review penal reforms as part of broader justice sector improvements.
Analysts argue that effective prison decongestion could set an example for other Nigerian states facing similar challenges.
The call reflects growing national conversations on shifting from punitive justice to restorative justice models.
The coming months will reveal whether Delta will pioneer reforms that humanize its justice system while ensuring public safety.