In a significant humanitarian gesture, eight inmates have regained their freedom from the Ogwashi-Uku Custodial Centre in Delta State. The release was secured by The Chief Victor Uwajeh Foundation (CVUF), which fulfilled the bail conditions for the detainees.
A Festive Gesture of Freedom and Rehabilitation
The foundation executed this intervention on Monday, December 29, 2025, acting on behalf of its founder, Chief Victor Osita Uwajeh, the Olikeze of Onicha-Ugbo Kingdom. Chief Uwajeh described the act as the fulfillment of a personal promise and a core part of his December humanitarian initiatives for his community and constituency.
In a statement released the same day, Chief Alex Odi-Okoh provided further details on the foundation's motivations. He emphasized that this move was a deliberate starting point for the foundation's festive season outreach, which will be followed by broader community welfare and youth empowerment programs.
Foundation's Commitment to Community and Reintegration
Odi-Okoh highlighted Chief Uwajeh's consistent passion for community security and welfare. The foundation stated that this gesture marks a significant step in its commitment to rehabilitation, community welfare, and the crucial process of social reintegration.
Following their release, the freed inmates were counseled to shun violence, embrace positive values, and focus wholeheartedly on rebuilding their lives. The event stands as a powerful demonstration of the foundation's dedication to humanitarian service, restorative justice, and sustainable community development.
Context of Prisoner Releases in Nigeria
This act of compassion in Delta State echoes similar initiatives across Nigeria. Recall that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the release of 52 inmates on December 31, 2024, and another 56 on June 25, 2024. The Lagos governor also commuted the death sentences of six inmates to life imprisonment.
Historically, prisoner releases have also been used as a tool for decongestion, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. The former Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government had initiated plans for the release of a significant percentage of inmates to contain the virus's spread in correctional facilities.
The Chief Victor Uwajeh Foundation's intervention, therefore, adds to a growing narrative of second chances and societal reintegration, offering hope and a fresh start during the festive season.
