Written By: Ahmed Rufa’i in Dutse
For two long months, a 22-year-old woman endured the harsh reality of life behind bars in Garki Correctional Centre, Jigawa State not for a violent crime, but simply because she could not afford to pay a court-imposed fine.
Her story took a more painful turn when she gave birth in custody, cradling her newborn within the cold walls of the facility, unsure of what the future held.
The young mother, whose name is withheld, became one of many silent faces in Nigeria’s correctional centres until a chance visit changed everything.
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Women’s Wing in Jigawa State had arrived at the facility as part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day. What was meant to be a routine humanitarian visit soon became a mission of compassion.
Among the inmates, they noticed a frail young woman holding a tiny baby.
“We were touched when we saw her with the child,” said the Chairperson of the NLC Women’s Wing in the state, Comrade Salma Ilyasu Abubakar.
“When we asked questions, we discovered she was only there because she couldn’t pay a fine. She even gave birth while in detention.”
Moved by her plight, the group immediately took action. A lawyer was engaged to follow up on the case, and within a short time, the fine was paid.
Freedom finally came — not just for the young mother, but for her baby who had known nothing but prison walls since birth.
Abubakar described conditions in correctional centres as “pitiable,” stressing that many inmates are held for minor civil offences that could be resolved without imprisonment.
Another member of the group, Comrade Sirko, echoed similar concerns, noting that the justice system must show greater compassion, especially towards vulnerable individuals.
The NLC Women’s Wing is now calling on judges to exercise leniency in cases involving pregnant women and minor offences, urging the use of alternatives to custodial sentencing.
For the freed mother, her story is one of hardship, survival, and hope a reminder that sometimes, a simple act of kindness can restore not just freedom, but dignity.
