Katsina — The Katsina State government has freed 22 inmates, Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema on Community Development, Alhaji Abubakar Bindawa, has said.

Addressing some of the released inmates at the Katsina Central Prison, Bindawa said the government settled fines of the beneficiaries, which was about N1.2 million.

Alhaji Abubakar said the beneficiaries were from various prisons across the state, adding that N10,000 was also given to each of the inmates to set up small scale business.

He charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the money by becoming productive in the society. Bindawa said the exercise would be repeated after every six months, adding that it is aimed at decongesting prisons in the state.

He also urged the beneficiaries to be of good behavior, and desist from committing crimes that would take them back to prison.

One of the beneficiaries, who spoke on behalf of the inmates, Muhammad Nasir, thanked the state government for the gesture.