Niger State government on Monday December 20, returned 104 Almajirai to Sokoto State.
The Almajirai aged four to 10, were intercepted along with their “Teacher” at Maikunkele when they were about to enter the state from Sokoto.
The Mallam who claimed he was bringing the children to Niger for Islamic education, was reportedly conveying them in a trailer. It was gathered that the mallam said there is an Islamic centre in Angwan Biri in Bosso Local Government Area where the boys were to reside and study.
Director-General of the Niger State Childs Rights Agency, Maryam Kolo who said it is wicked to transport the children in a trailer and in the cold, revealed that the kids and their teacher were sent back as part of the state government’s effort to enforce the ban against street begging and activities of Almajirai.
Kolo said;
“We are being very proactive. We are very shocked that someone would come into the state with 104 children from Sokoto under the guise of taking them to an Islamic school without any provision of food or funds on them.”