Fifteen inmates of the Warri Correctional Centre have regained their freedom following the intervention of the suspended Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, in partnership with a non-governmental organisation, FOOSTODEY.
The intervention, undertaken through FOOSTODEY’s “UKODO NA TẸVWẸ” welfare initiative, involved the payment of court-imposed fines running into millions of naira for inmates who had been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment with options of fines.
The beneficiaries, drawn from different local government areas of Delta State, were released on Monday, August 24, 2026, after the necessary payments and correctional and administrative procedures were completed.
Izeze, who had spent some days at the correctional centre, reportedly encountered more than 20 inmates whose continued detention was linked to their inability to pay fines imposed by the courts.
During his interaction with the inmates, Izeze discovered that some of them had been sentenced with the option of fines but were unable to raise the required amounts to secure their release.
Moved by their plight, he intervened by drawing the attention of FOOSTODEY to their circumstances, leading to the payment of the fines and their subsequent release.
The organisation subsequently intervened, settling the outstanding court-imposed fines and facilitating the release of 15 inmates.
Speaking after the beneficiaries regained their freedom, Tisha Ejekanshe Matthew, ACA, Special Assistant on Community Relations, said the intervention went beyond the payment of fines, describing it as an effort to restore hope, dignity and the opportunity for the beneficiaries to reconnect with their families.
Matthew, who spoke on behalf of FOOSTODEY and Izeze, said the initiative demonstrated how targeted humanitarian interventions could make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable people.
He added that the objective was to give the beneficiaries a second chance to rebuild their lives and make positive contributions to their communities.
The released inmates expressed appreciation to FOOSTODEY and Izeze for the intervention, saying their freedom had provided an opportunity to reunite with their families and begin a new chapter.
They also commended Izeze for drawing attention to their circumstances and expressed gratitude to the Delta State Government, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, for what they described as its people-oriented disposition and concern for citizens’ welfare.
The beneficiaries said their experience in custody had given them ample opportunity to reflect on their actions and the consequences of wrong choices.
They pledged to remain law-abiding and responsible members of society, promising to use the opportunity provided by their release to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
For their families, the release brought considerable relief as the beneficiaries returned home after fulfilling the relevant legal and administrative requirements.
In a further gesture of support, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Mass Mobilisation, Pastor Vincent Udume Odogbor, provided transport logistics for the released inmates to enable them to return safely to their respective communities.
The support, according to those involved, ensured that the humanitarian intervention extended beyond securing the inmates’ release to assisting them in their journey back to their families.
The development highlights the role individuals, civil-society organisations and other stakeholders can play in supporting vulnerable persons and providing practical humanitarian interventions.
Through the “UKODO NA TẸVWẸ” initiative, FOOSTODEY has given the 15 beneficiaries an opportunity to leave the correctional facility, reunite with their families and begin the process of rebuilding their lives.
For the beneficiaries, Monday’s release marked the end of a difficult chapter and the beginning of a new one with a renewed pledge to live responsibly, productively and within the law.
