The National Human Rights Commission on Monday said nursing mothers and pregnant women are about 90% of the women awaiting trial in prisons.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe during a visit by the National President, National Council of Women Societies, Gloria Shoda to his office.

He said, “In our prisons today, we have a lot of nursing mothers who are being locked up with their children and are nursing these children in the prison cells.

“We also have instances where such women who are still carrying babies in prison are also pregnant.

“It is also sad to note that more than 90 per cent of these nursing mothers are still awaiting trial. These are women that will have been released on bail while awaiting their trial.

“But they are kept there in prison with their children who are made to serve prison terms when their mothers are not yet convicted.”

He said the figure was gotten from a research recently done by the commission.

Azeez