The Nigerian Correctional Service, however, clarified that Ogun and Rivers centres have the highest number of death row inmates.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), has disclosed that 4.7 per cent of inmates across custodial centres in the country are on the death row.
According to the service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Deputy Controller Abubakar Umar, out of a national inmate population of 81,558, a total of 3,833 inmates are on death row.
He made this known on Wednesday in Abuja, while debunking recent media reports by some online platforms that Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos States, with total population of 1,300, 1,250, and 2,055 respectively have the highest numbers of Inmates on Death Row (IDR).
In his words, available statistics by the NCoS presently show that Ogun, Rivers, Enugu, Lagos, and Delta States have the highest number of inmates sentenced to death.
He also said that Osun, Ebonyi, Oyo, Kogi, and Anambra States recorded the lowest figures in the same category.
He added that Ogun State tops the list with 568 death row inmates, followed by Rivers with 504, Enugu with 328, Lagos with 314, and Delta with 256.
At the lower end, he noted that Osun State currently had no death row inmates, while Ebonyi and Oyo States have two each, Kogi three, and Anambra four.
He further explained that the disparities may be linked to varying crime rates, judicial processes, and the administrative actions of state governments, particularly the signing of death warrants or approval of clemency requests.
The Deputy Controller highlighted that the management of inmates on death row presents serious challenges for the Service, especially in terms of congestion and financial pressure on the Federal Government.
Umar, however, said that the Service classified inmates based on their legal status. Hence, inmates were classified as Awaiting Trial, Short-term Convicts, Long-term Convicts, Lifers, Inmates on Death Row, Debtors, Female, Juveniles, among others.
“As at Tuesday, July 22, 2025, death row inmates are 3,833 nationwide, which make up about five per cent of the entire prison population.
“Out of this number, 3,754 are males, while 79 are females.
“Also, out of the entire inmate population, 24,252 inmates are convicted nationwide, which is 29 per cent. Out of this number, 23,725 are male, while 457 are female.
“Those awaiting trials nationwide amount to 53,473 inmates, which comprise 52,066 males and 1,407 females. This is about 66 per cent.
“This brings the total to 81,558 inmates in custody across the various custodial centres in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),” he said.
Speaking on the number of hangmen that the Service has, Umar declined comment, saying that many state governments set up prerogative of mercy committees to review convicted cases occasionally.
He said that many inmates on death row are benefitting from such exercises and are contributing meaningfully to society.
He, however, appealed that the public should know that the NCoS is functionally engaging inmates on death row through educational programmes and vocational training.
“The Service doesn’t allow them to wallow endlessly under the toga of death sentence,” he maintained.
