Musbahu Kofar-Nassarawa, the NCoS spokesperson in Kano, said some governors are reluctant to sign death warrants, resulting in the backlog of death row inmates. Shehu Abdullahi, the Kano coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, said the situation infringes on the rights of the condemned criminals, who sometimes attack prison warders.
In Kaduna, the state's correctional service spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, legal practitioner Abdulrazaq Ahmed said keeping inmates on death row for years without carrying out the penalty or commuting the sentence infringes on their rights.
The issue of prison congestion has been a longstanding problem in Nigeria, with some facilities overcrowded and understaffed. The government has been urged to take action to address the issue of death row inmates, including the speedy signing of death warrants and commutation of sentences for those deserving of it.
The issue of death row inmates is contentious globally, with debates about the ethics of the death penalty and whether it is an effective deterrent for crime. Some countries have abolished the death penalty altogether, while others have imposed strict conditions and limitations on its use.
In Nigeria, the death penalty is still legal. However, it is not often carried out due to a combination of factors, such as the reluctance of some governors to sign death warrants and lengthy legal processes.
Despite the lack of executions, the number of death row inmates in Nigeria is reportedly high, with some waiting for years for their sentences to be carried out. Some activists have argued that the death penalty violates human rights and should be abolished, while others have called for its continued use in certain circumstances.
The issue of prison reform, including the treatment of death row inmates, will likely continue to be a topic of debate in Nigeria and beyond.