Kebbi State Gov. Alhaji Atiku Bagudu said Friday the state received 61 Almajiri children repatriated by the government of Kano State.
The Nigeria News Agency (NAN) reports that the children were received by Gov. Bagudu and various stakeholders in the state at the IDP camp in Kalgo at Birnin Kebbi.
Bagudu said the Kano State government’s repatriation of the children to the state was in line with the recent decision of the governors of the nineteen northern states.
The kids were checked by the Kano government earlier and properly declared COVID-19 safe, he says.
He said those who had tested positive for the disease were left at Kano, seeking treatment before being repatriated afterwards.
Bagudu clarified that the governors unanimously took the decision to repatriate those children to their different states of origin.
“This decision was taken in the best interest of the children, as well as the educational development of the region.
“Education is the basic fundamental human right of these children and we will not tinker with it.
“These children are from Maiyama, Jega, Argungu, Dandi, Suru, Bagudo and Kalgo Local Government Areas of the state.
“They will be handed over to their respective local government chairmen, for them to be reunited with their various families for continuation of their education.
“Their proper identities will be ascertained and those whose proper identities cannot be immediately ascertained will be taken to the various government orphanages
“The state government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that these children’s education are not toyed with,” he said.
Bagudu also announced that a token sum of money would be given to each of the children as a start-up base for the continuation of their education.
“Our state will also soon conduct a census of all the Almajiri children across the state.
“This is with the view to reuniting those from the state with their various families and for the continuation of their education.
“Those from other states will be repatriated to their states of origin, while those from the neighboring countries will be repatriated to their countries through the Federal Government,” the governor said.
Earlier, Alhaji Muhammadu Magawata-Aliero, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, said the governor had expressed his utmost concern about their welfare until the Almajiri arrived in the state.
The chairman of the COVID—19 Task Force, who is also the state Health Commissioner, Alhaji Jafar Muhammed, clarified that before the 61 Almajiri were repatriated to the state, the Kano state government had made sure they had been tested.
“Their result turned out to be negative and COVID- -19 certified free,” added the chairman.
NAN notes that the children were handed over to the presidents of their respective areas of local government for further transfer to their parents.