Niger has sent 21 child beggars (“Almajiris’’) back to their Katsina State of origin following its ban on street begging.
Hajiya Mariam Kolo, Director-General, Child Rights Protection Agency said on Thursday in Minna 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 has been intercepted with 21 `Almajiris’.
“The bus was brought to our office where we found that most of children are below the age of 17 years.
“They are `Almajiris’ who have come to Niger 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 explained.
Kolo stressed that the children also had to be returned to their state of origin because government would not allow Niger to be used as a dumping ground.
“Niger 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.
“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.
In his remarks, Abdulrazaka said the children were brought to him from Katsina State by their parents to acquire Islamic and Quranic knowledge.
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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, Kastina State,’’ he said.
Also speaking on the issue, 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. (NAN)