Gov. Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State has pardoned nine prison inmates serving various jail terms in the state, an official said on Thursday in Kaduna.

The state’s Director General on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki who disclosed this in a statement, said Yero’s action was contained in a letter to the state’s Solicitor-General.

The statement said the letter conveying the decision was dated Sept. 26 and that the governor’s gesture was part of activities to commemorate the country’s 53rd Independence Anniversary.

“He approved the release of the convicts as recommended by the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy in exercise of his powers under Section 212 of the Constitution (as amended).

“The prisoners affected were in four categories, A to D, and three of the beneficiaries have six months left to serve, while two others were pardoned on age grounds.