Hajiya Halima Jabiru, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Nasarawa State, has expressed concern over the increase in Almajiri (beggars) roaming the streets in the state.
The commissioner said this on Tuesday when she paid a visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Yamusa, in Keffi.
She recalled that Gov. Abdullahi Sule inaugurated a committee to look into the issue of children roaming the streets in the name of street begging.
According to her, there is an executive order that banned children between age one and ten especially the ones begging on the street
The commissioner, who said the emir was a member of the committee, stressed the committee to discharge its mandate.
According to her, every Almajiri should go back to their state, especially those that are not from Nasarawa state.
“So far, some have been handed over to the state government, so that they can unite with their families,’’ the commissioner said.
She recalled that the exercise began with repatriation of 3,800 Almajiri to the 19 Northern States, adding that it was the first phase of the exercise
According to her, the second and third of the exercise will take place soon.
The commissioner said she was directed by the governor to discuss with the Emir on why repatriation of Almajiri was not successful in keffi and Karu.
She said Nasarawa government would syenergise with emirate council to ensure that the repatriation exercise work in the state.
“These children are highly exposed to the risk and are being used by their teachers to go on the street to feed for themselves.
“At their age, they are supposed to be under their parent to be brought up properly,’’ she said.
According to her, every child deserves to be happy and taken off the street so that he or she can have a meaningful life.
“That is why some children turn out to be armed robbers because of negligence.
“Nasarawa Government wants to return these children to their state to enable it face those from the state.
“It is aimed at enrolling them into western education and to improve the facility around their study centre so that they can be better citizens in the future and to themselves.’’
Responding, Yamusa said he would have a meeting with the leader of the Almajiri to find solution to the influx of Almajiris by ensuring that they have been taken back to their states.
