COVID-19: Kaduna evacuates 20,000 almajiris

The Kaduna State Government has evacuated over 20,000 almajiris back to their states of origin.

The Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hafsat Baba, who gave the figure said the children and adults have since been sent back to 17 states of the Federation since the operations began two weeks ago.Baba also said that there were foreigners from Republic of Niger among the almajiris.

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“So far, we have returned over 20,736 almajiris  and adults  to 17 states  and also those from Niger Republic. But we still have clerics that are hiding these children from the authorities at outskirt of the state,” she said.Sheikh Rabiu Abdullahi, the Chairman Tsangaya Schools Association, however, called on all clerics operating such Almajiri schools to shutdown saying other western schools too have been closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.“This is why we are urging our members to obey the government by sending the children back home for the time being. We pray God will bring an end to this plaque,” he said.‎It will be recalled that the state government had few days ago also demolished a popular destitute home along Kano Road within the metropolis.Our reporter gathered that vehicles were also provided to some of the beggars who were stranded to evacuate them back home as part of measures to curb the ‎spread of the COVID-19 virus in the state.The ministry said the over-congestion in the home was of great concerned to the government, hence why the house was pulled down.

Source: Daily Trust