From Tunde Bolaji, Minna
Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello on Thursday decried increasing number of “Almajiris” who are of school age from other states begging on the streets of Minna, the state capital.
He made this observation when he stopped his convoy at a traffic light junction along Minna Western bye-pass to chat with some under aged Almajiris, who though came to acquire Islamic education had to resort to begging for survival.
Shocked to find out that some of the kids were below ten years, the governor said the issue of Almajiri is a sad situation in the country and that it required urgent and far-reaching attention.
The governor frowned at parents who send their children and wards to far places to acquire Islamic education. He maintained that there was no justification for it.
His words: “It is sad when you see children of ages from seven to ten years from as far as Jigawa State here in Minna to acquire Islamic education without any parental care. There is no justification for parents to send their children to far places to acquire Islamic education because today there is no ward in Nigeria without Islamic school that the children can study in.
“It is an act of irresponsibility on the part of parents who hide under the religion to send their children for Islamic education far away from home where they can be given adequate comfort and care”, he said.
Governor Sani Bello said he has set up a committee to advise government on the activities of Almajiri in the state, adding that government will soon start repatriating the Almajirs back to their various states.
“It is no longer acceptable to send your children far away from home just because you want them to acquire Islamic education. Very soon we shall send these children back to their parents and states,” the governor stated.
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