The Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos State, on Sunday, said no fewer than 353 inmates are currently on death row at the Kirikiri Custodial Centre.
The spokesman of the Service, Mr Rotimi Oladokun, confirmed the number in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
According to him, about 210 inmates are also serving life jail terms.
He explained that there are five custodial centres in Lagos namely; Ikoyi, Badagry, Kirikiri Female, Kirikiri Medium and Kirikiri Maximum.
He said the Ikoyi Custodial Centre was built to accommodate 800 inmates, however, currently; it hosts no fewer than 2,400 inmates.
“The Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centre, which was built with the capacity of 1,006 inmates, now houses about 2,100 inmates,” he said.
Oladokun said the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre, which was built to host 5,930 inmates, has fewer inmates.
Explaining that the offences committed by the inmates on death row varied, Oladokun said, “The offences included armed robbery; murder; treason; fabricating false evidence leading to the conviction to death of an innocent person; aiding suicide of a child or lunatic; kidnapping among others.”
