More criminals are outside prisons, says Pastor Adeboye

AS part of his bi-annual programmes, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Wednesday visited the Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri, Lagos, to pray for and encourage the inmates to have faith in God.
Speaking at the prison’s Liberty Chapel, Adeboye said: “There are more prisoners outside the prison than inside. There are more criminals out there than those who are in here.”
Quoting copiously from the scriptures, he told the inmates of efforts he made before and is still making to ensure that some of them are released.
“While you are opening your Bibles, I want to assure you I already know your request even before you ask. If somebody would go back to history lane, you would remember that the first time I came here the prison was heavily over crowded. There were about almost 1,700 prisoners. The prison was meant for 600 people. I went out and spoke to Mr. President then.    He told me I should see the people in Lagos and I spoke with the governor of Lagos. He said that I should speak to the Chief Judge. I spoke to the Chief Judge and all the people they said I should speak to. And by the time I came back, over 1,000 inmates had been set free.
“On one occasion they told me that the reason they are reluctant to release people is that they know that if some of them get out, they would become a nuisance. And I gave them my word. In fact, I told them if you don’t mind, release them to me. By the grace of God we would be able to take care of them and make sure they don’t become a problem again,” he said.
He added: “They do not really trust you that much even though they trust me. They said to me, ‘daddy, you don’t know the problem you are asking for.’ I told them that my God can handle any problem. I will keep on pressing. I’m sure that very, soon there will be good news again.”
The inmates who used the occasion of his visit made their requests known to him and he responded thus: “As for the students who gained admission to the Open University I think they are about 10 of them. I understand that the fee is about N140, 000 per year. We can consider that one done. And by the special of God, the office will look different by next time I return.”
Assuring them of God’s intervention, Adeboye said: “Some of you who thought that this is where you are going end up your life. But I have good news for you. Many of you are going to end up as evangelists outside Kirikiri prison.”
Adeboye who also dedicated the prison’s computer centre, was accompanied by members of City of David (RCCG) and Pastor Trevor Akindele.
The Deputy of Controller of the prison, Tinuoye Olumide Timothy, also spoke of the importance Adeboye’s visit.
“We are here today because the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God is visiting Maximum Security Prisons. It’s a bi-annual event.
“In the yard now they have renovated our computer room and provided about 12 complete sets of computers. He will be dedicating that as well as minister to the inmates. The inmates are really happy because they know that the person that is coming is a personality in the society; that whatever he says it’s likely people will listen,” he said.