The Day an Innocent Father Came Home

Innocent, his wife stand with some of their kids

After months behind bars Innocent is finally home. Wrongfully accused of stealing a phone, he was imprisoned despite there being no evidence against him. While he waited for justice, his wife and their eight children paid the highest price.

With no income and no certainty that her husband would ever return, Innocent's wife faced impossible choices. She sold their only goat to buy food. A neighbour had generously lent the family a cow so they could collect manure for their fields, but as the months passed and Innocent remained in prison, the owner assumed he would not return anytime soon and took the cow back.

As the family's situation became even more desperate, she was forced to pledge their entire banana plantation as collateral for a two-year loan just to keep the children alive, whereas some children had to drop out of school to help carry that family burden.

"It was devastating," she says. "My children went hungry. I struggled to find food for them and something to take to my husband in prison. I couldn't afford to keep the children in school. While others received maize and bean seeds for planting, I received nothing. I didn't grow neither maize nor beans."

The consequences of those difficult months are still visible today. Standing beside the plantation, Innocent points to the banana trees.

"You see all these banana plants? They are no longer mine. My wife had to give them away as collateral so our children could survive. I will have to wait for two years" He points to neighbouring homes where harvested maize is drying after the season.

"Look at my neighbours' harvests. We have nothing except what kind people have given us. My wife could not afford buying maize or beans seed. unfortunately, I left the prison with weakness that prevents me from doing strong activities as before since I have pain on my back . "

Innocent points at banana plantation her wife gave away as collateral for a two year

Thankfully, RESTOBU stepped in. Through its Prison Ministry, the organization provided legal support and advocated for justice. Finally, the court acquitted Innocent, allowing him to return home.

"God did a great thing by sending RESTOBU to help us," Innocent said. "May God bless them."

For his wife, seeing him walk through the door again was worth more than anything they had lost.

"We had lost so much," she says, "but having my husband back was what mattered most. We trust God to restore what we have lost. Thank you to everyone who helped us."

Now Innocent is trying to rebuild his life. Thankfully, the owner of the phone has since discovered who really stole it, and tensions between the families are beginning to ease.

RESTOBU's Prison Ministry continues to advocate for those who have no one to defend them while helping families rebuild their lives after release.

As Jesus reminds us: "I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matthew 25:36)