- Successfully Completed.
The Kwandala Foundation has succeeded in freeing some prisoners by paying for their meager court fines to secure their freedom. A project usually crowd-funded by the populace, both Muslims and Christians from across the country.
This is an annual exercise the humanitarian organization organizes and executes during the holy month of Ramadhan. In fact, many givers call for the project once the fasting period commences. AlhamdulilLaah. Ma sha Allaah.
Inmates, some as young as 18 years, but looking even younger were among those that enjoyed their freedom from incarceration on the eve of the Eid-ul-Fitri Sallah.
Each of them has a story to tell and when asked to spill the beans, did they spill it?! Our target are usually non criminal cases. Persons with little fines in the range of N1,000, N1,500, N2,000 or thereabout and we would then plan to pay for about 50-100 inmates.
But this time around we could only get a few of them out at higher fines of N10k, N20k, N50k for one in jail for 18 months and another N70k for someone in prison for 2 years. Both, like their counterparts couldn't pay their imposed fines.
Many of such high cost, non criminal individuals are languishing in jails after spending months awaiting trial and then getting their sentence. Sadly for most of them, their family members, relatives and friends do not even know their whereabout!
Due to the fact that, we dont usually budget a certain amount before hand to do the project, but rely on donations from well meaning individuals in the society, our scheduled event usually happens in the closing dates of Ramadhan, the last 10 days.
By the time we are ready, almost all the low-fine inmates have been freed by other kind hearted individuals and NGOs. Only the slightly higher fined prisoners usually freed by the State Governor and Emir of Kano remain. Thus by default ours is ranked among these giants.
This year's prisoners liberation came with a difference. In the previous years 2013 - 2018, we were given prisoners on a prepared list, gathered together before our arrival. But this year, efforts had to be made before we got them.
In fact, when their names were being announced, some refuse to come forth for fear of being transferred to another prison (Bichi, Wudil, G'Dutse etc), believing the hardship and welfare is far less than that at Kurmawa. So, even if they hear their names being called, they pretend absence.
Stories these prisoners came out with was often so sobering that it is scary for any one to imagine finding himself or herself inside such a horrible place. Some stated they have been in there awaiting trials for months, before they are finally taken to court and sentenced.
Court fines from #6,000- #20,000 with options of 2 - 9 months were some of the cases we encountered and paid for. Some have started serving their jail terms a few days, others almost completing it, only for Kwandala Foundation to come unexpectedly to their rescue.
Their crimes? Possession of marijuana, loitering, trespassing, political rally involvement, and among the women prostitution, poor debt repayment, petty theft and so on.
In some instances, cases one shouldn't be in jail for, youths find themselves among hardened criminals, condemned murderers, terrorist suspects, rapists etc.
One of the freed convicts we interviewed lamented sorrowfully the lack of any rehabilitation or correctional function the prison system is suppose to serve. Rather the opposite is what he noticed is obtainable. He complained bitterly about the homosexual acts happening in there.
We were almost done for the day, when a case of a young man was brought to us. He saw our Foundation members (Kwandalights) inside the prison facility and immediately started to beg, pleading and appealing to us to help him gain his exit. That he was innocent of any guilt.
He confessed to us he was not a criminal nor has he ever been involved in anything evil. Why was he in prison then? We asked. He said he was caught in possession of a lighter and that he smokes cigarettes. But in a swoop by security operatives, he was among the caught.
One thing led to another and he found himself there. His fine was N20,000 or 3 months in jail. He has spent 13 days before our Prison-Free Project and prayed to be rescued. The warders recommended him and we paid for his freedom. You need to see his tears filled eyes!
So much has happened and the experience we gained is priceless. May any of our family, friends and loved ones never find themselves is such a dreadful place.
Until next Ramadhan in sha Allah when we do this again, we would like to sincerely thank all those who donated one thing or another that ensured the success of the project. May Allah SWT reward your GIVING whether small or huge with the ultimate of success both here and the Hereafter. Amin.
Ramadhan Kareem and Eid Mubarak... :D
KWANDALA FOUNDATION "Give A Coin 4 Life"
*** COMING SOON ***
~ #Full_List_of_Donors ~
*******
