Niger Returns 21 Almajiris To Katsina

The Niger State Government has sent 21 child beggars (Almajiris) back to their state of origin Katsina State, following its ban on the street begging.

The Director-General of Child Rights Protection Agency Hajiya Mariam Kolo said yesterday in Minna, the state capital, that the children were intercepted in Minna on their way to Mokwa Town, another part of the state.

They were being conveyed in a bus driven by one Malam Habibi Abdulrazaka, resident in Suleja, also in the state.

“Three days ago, we received a call that a bus conveying 21 Almajiris has been intercepted.

“The bus was brought to our office where we found that most of the children are below the age of 17 years.

“They are `Almajiris’ who have come to Niger State to undergo Islamic studies.

“Since they did not fulfil the basic requirement of liaising with any Islamic association in the state, we have to return them to their state of origin,” she said.

Kolo stressed that the children also had to be returned to their state of origin because the government would not allow Niger State to be used as a dumping ground.

“Niger State will not condone any act of street begging which has long been abolished.

“Only children who have met the basic requirements are welcome to learn Islamic and Quranic education in the state.

“Any Islamic teacher bringing children to learn should ensure that the rights of the children are protected, such as feeding and provision of decent accommodation.

“The government will no longer take responsibility for the burden of people coming into the state,’’ the Director-General said.

According to her, the state government is taking care of some `Almajiris’ already and reforming them and will not allow people to infiltrate and reverse progress being made.

Abdulrazaka said the children were brought to him from Katsina State by their parents to acquire Islamic and Quranic knowledge.

He added that he was not aware of the rules and regulations guiding the issue of `Alimajiri’ in the state.

“The parents brought the children to me in Suleja from Kankara, Katsina State,” he said.

Mr Sadiq Yamai, National Organising Secretary, Centre for Quranic Research in Nigeria said it had been collaborating with the government to profile children brought into Niger to learn Quranic education.