March 09, (THEWILL) – Abdullahi Surajo, aka Bolo, a 14-year-old boy languishing at the Kurumawa Maximum Prison, Kano, has appealed to Governor Abba Yusuf to intervene to set him free from jail.
Bolo, who spoke to Reporters at the Correctional Facility during a visit by the Inspector-General of Police Special Taskforce (Police Duty Solicitors Scheme), said: “Tell our Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, to help me out of this hell at the centre of the city because I have been denied access to justice.”
The minor, who admitted to have, in connivance with others now at large, forcefully dispossessed a lady of her phone at Naibawa Quarters, Kano, tearfully explained that “my condition as you can see is critical, deep inside me, I know I am slowly dying here, and only the timely intervention of our amiable Governor can save my life.
“I need an opportunity to sincerely repent to Allah, as well as apologise to my victims, and turn a new leaf to enable me to contribute positively to the society.”
Bolo, who couldn’t control his emotions during the brief encounter with Journalists, said: ” I am an orphan staying in the house of my uncle with my siblings, alongside 33 other members of the extended family where I was exposed to deprivation and excruciating poverty amidst dwindling revenue of our uncle who retired from public service last year.
“I am the youngest here in this facility. I have spent a year and a couple of months here and because of the absence of legal representations at the court, the authority hardly takes me to court again.”
He revealed that on one or two occasions they did, the usual routine was that his lawyer took him back to remand.
The minor alleged that he had been abandoned by his family at a point. “I was taken to court and none of my relatives has set foot here since I was incarcerated.
“Ever since I was hounded here, I have been wearing one cloth, personal hygiene is something else, and of course no one cares, but the lesson of life is that I have cheated myself by getting involved in crime and criminality so early in my life,” he said.
He used the opportunity to plead with those he had offended to forgive him, stressing that “I regret the unsavoury role I played in my life.”
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
