No fewer than 57 inmates tied in chains havs been rescued by the Zamfara State Government on Monday after bursting a rehabilitation centre in Gusau.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that a team of security operatives and some officials from the state Ministry for Women and Children Affairs was sent by the Commissioner for Special Duties Alhaji Mohammed Saddiq Maiturare after he recieved an order to immediately burst the centre from the Governor Matawalle who got a wind of a secret existence of this centre.
According to report, no fewer than 57 male and female inmates were found in the squad House which serves as the Center operated by one Malam Iliyasu Abdullahi Gamagiwa on arrival.
It was also learnt that the inmates were reportedly found chained.
The inmates were immediately released by the security operatives and reportedly taken to the state remand home where they were fed before the next line of action to rehabilitate and reunite them with their families.
According to the Commissioner, the inmates were kept in a horrible manner without proper care or adequate meals, adding that the state government would profile the inmates to ascertain their age and where they came from.
Reacting to the incident, the owner of rehabilitation identified as Mallam Abdullahi Illiyasu centre told newsmen that he had been running the house for about 30 years.
He said he collected N15,700 for registration fees and another N10,000 monthly for food and medicine.
“The duration for the rehabilitation is between three to six months after which a parent can come and pick his ward. But we don’t torture any one here, we only rehabilitate them so that they become well-mannered,” he said.
However, some of the rescued inmates said they were being allowed to eat only once in a day, and whenever someone is admitted, he or she would receive 50 lashes. They said they were packed in one room without adequate ventilation.
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