Over 30,000 Almajiris Move to South After Eviction From North

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The south west could experience the influx of almajiris in the next few weeks following the decision of northern governors to stop child begging in their various states, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP has said.

As the 19 northern states governments tighten the noose on the activities of these child beggars, who are mostly orphans, SERAP said the issue of survival will drive them to other parts of the country.

No fewer than 30,000 almajiris or child beggars have been evicted from Kaduna state alone in the last few days, Governor Nasir-el Rufai said, adding that leaders in the region has agreed to stamp out the system totally.

Apart from Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa have deported hundreds of almajiris from their states, following reports that many of them may have been positive of the corona virus.

But SERAP said northern leaders have not taken the welfare of the child beggars seriously and that evicting them to other states will not bring lasting solution to the problem.

For instance, the group said many almajiris will eventually end up in the south west, thus constituting more social problems for the region.

In an interview with Sahara Reporters, SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said the migration of almajiris to other states can only be permanently resolved if northern political leaders begin to pay serious attention to their well being.

Mumuni spoke amidst controversy trailing interstate deportation of the beggars.

Some almajiris and youths from the north have recently been turned back after they were cited trying to gain entry into south.

In fact, the IPOB had few days ago accused northern leaders of plot to infect the south east with corona virus by sending almajiris to their region.

These controversies, SEPAP said would be minimal if there’s a national solution to the problem of almajiris, adding that such solution should be localized.

SERAP said, “The question of interstate travel is a question of survival. People may think survival in a certain part of Nigeria is more favourable and conducive to their lives and that is the only reason they want to move about.

The better thing is if the government of the state in which they come from take the welfare and well-being of citizens seriously so that the question of almajiris and their problems are solved.

When states they come from take their survival more serious, they will be able to live and subsist in their state by not only living but good living.”

The group stated that almajiris are exercising the rights when they move to other parts of the country for survival, adding that the security agencies must do more at this time to curtail inter-state movement as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to stop further spread of the COVID 19.

“So, if people are being returned to their states of origin when we have a public health emergency, we won’t blame the government for that.

That’s the way it can be eradicated but if you say they are moving to other parts of Nigeria for survival, that they have to do as Nigerians because there is no functional law that says a citizen of another state cannot go to another state to survive.

Security agents are bound to carry out legitimate order (of the ban on inter-state travelling) and while they are carrying it out, they must ensure that they do not deliberately maltreat Nigerians in the name of enforcing the order,” the group said.