Kano State Government ‘deports’ 1,500 Almajiris

The Kano State Government has arrested and subsequently repatriated over 1,500 Almajiris back to their various States and countries of origin, following a ban on street begging in the state.

Penpushing reports that, those so far arrested as at Friday were repatriated to their States which includes: Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Borno and Yobe States, as well as neighbouring countries of Chad and Niger Republic,  .

The spokesperson of Hisbah, (the state’s moral police) Lawan Fagge, who confirmed the development adding that following the ban on street begging by children popularly referred to as Almajiris , some parents voluntarily withdrew their children from the streets.

Penpushing further reports that, Fagge disclosed that  Katsina State has the highest numbers of the repatriated almajiris while Jigawa State has the least,adding that among the arrested almajiris, about 70 per cent are children from the ages of seven and twelve.

The official report also has it that there are also old aged women who sees begging as a business, as even when their families provided all their needed necessities, they insisted on going out to beg, stating that  those in that category are over 400.

We counseled them and handed them over to their families here in Kano, while others are repatriated back to their States. Those arrested children from Kano were classified. Those who can read and write the Holy Qur’an were identified awaiting further directives from his Excellency the Governor,” Fagge said.

Penpushing also reports that, the spokesman acknowledged that the banning of the streets begging in the state is still facing a challenge explaining that  they are still currently debating other almajiri’s teachers who are against the ban.

The government’s decision to ban the children from street begging is meant to safeguard their future and make the society a better place for all. The government said the effort was to fully consolidate the free and compulsory primary and Secondary Schools education in the State. Also, the decision was meant to integrate the Almajiri System into the policy and address the lingering problem of street begging’, he said.