By Tunde Bello, Lokoja.
When the news broke out that Nasarawa state government has concluded plans to return thirty five almajiri of Kogi state origin back to their state, tongues started wagging on the veracity of the claims.
The reports ignited discourse on social media with Kogi indigenes arguing that the state has no known almajiri. However, a few indigenes came forward to affirm the fact that Kogi state has contributed significantly to the almajiri system.
An indigene of Kogi state, Mohammed Danjuma, confirmed that himself and his father were once almajiris in Nasarawa state. “Long time ago, my Daddy did in Keffi. Even me I did it in Keffi, but my Daddy took me back when I rounded up my primary school at Yelwa Primary School, Keffi,” he posted on Facebook.
Aside Danjuma’s confirmation, a number of Kogi indigenes who never partook in the system noted that they met Almajiris of Kogi state origin in other states.
Commenting, Jibril Abdulrauf Nuhu confirmed that there are Almajiris of Kogi origin studying in other state. “I met one in Suleja Niger state sometimes last year. Since then I can’t stop thinking about the innocent boy. All efforts to see his father then didn’t yield any result.” Yusuf El-Mubaraq, in his own account, said he met some Almajiris from Kogi state when he was schooling in Federal University Lafia, Nasarawa state.
Another commentator, Billy Saliu, said; “I know few Ebira Mallams that sent their children between the age of 5-10 to kara’atu (Almajiri schools) in other parts of the north and I never saw them again. I won’t be surprised to hear about Ebira Almajiris.
Muktar Suleiman shared his experience on the Almajiri debacle. “When I was in Ankpa in 1996, I remember our landlord then who is very rich and popular sent one of his son to Kano to do Almajiri”
Meanwhile, Nasarawa state government is actually repatriating 4,443 almajiris to their states of origin and only 35 are bound for Kogi state. This action is premised on the unanimous agreement reached by Northern Governors, in one of their recent teleconference meeting, to repatriate all almajiris to their states of origin for proper care by their parents and at the same time for them to obtain both Islamic and Western education for them to contribute in developing the country. The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello partook in the meeting where this agreement was reached.
However, with reports coming from other states in the north, many of these deported almajiri’s are testing positive to coronavirus. 11 returnee almajiris tested positive in Kaduna. Nasarawa’s COVID-19 index case was reportedly a returnee almajiri from Kano state.
This is the main cause of concern as Kogi awaits her almajiris from Nasarawa state.
Kogi state has no single case of COVID-19. All suspected cases has turned out to be a ruse. The state squadron committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja (CIK) has been working day and night to ensure the state is prepared for any eventuality. Aside setting up three COVID-19 isolation centres in the state, the committee is also battling with mitigating further spread of Lassa Fever in the state.
While we await our 35 Almajiri brothers from Nasarawa state, it pertinent that we call the attention of the state government and its squadron team to take proactive steps, as usual, to ensure COVID-19 is not ‘transferred’ to Kogi state in the course of repatriating these young men.
While reacting to this issue, a former APC House of Reps candidate in Kogi state, Engr. Kayode Adegbayo called on that state government to quarantine the 35 Almajiris for 14 days before handing them over to their families.
“The government should send representative to Nasarawa to ascertain the genuineness of their originship and as soon as it’s established that they are from Kogi State, they should make arrangements for their return and the first step is to quarantine them for 14 days and subject them to medical checkup, including COVID – 19 test, and be sure of their medical status and thereafter identify and locate their families for hand over. This may gradually help us out an end to this almajiri system in Nigeria. It is really part of a major problem of Nigeria.
“I have met Kogi indigenes in Bauchi, Kano and sometimes in Dutse doing Almajiri, so I know what I meant by suggesting that Kogi should send representatives to ascertain if truly those alleged to be Kogites are true indigenes,” he said.
The state government has, however, kept quiet on the issue of Almajiri repatriation to Kogi from neighbouring Nasarawa state. It must be noted that this is just the first batch. Other batches will be deported from Nasarawa and other northern states where our sons are Almajiris.
