An Almajiri boy has reportedly drowned while attempting to hide from a Kaduna State Government’s task force that evacuate all Almajiri from the state, as a precautionary measure to eradicate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The boy was allegedly hidden by his 74-year-old Malam (handler), Umar Musa Mai Kalanzir, around River Kaduna area of Kabala West in Kaduna South Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of the state, when he lost his life.

Following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Kaduna State Government announced the shutdown of all schools, including Islamic (Tsangaya) schools and ordered that all Almajiri be taken back to their parents. That order led to evacuation of 20,731 Almajiri from the capital city on Monday, March 30th, 2020.

Reacting to Almajiri boy’s drowning, the Commissioner, Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Kaduna State, Hafsat Baba, expressed sadness over his death.

She lamented that some Malams had refused to comply with Kaduna State Government’s directives or bring their pupils for evacuation, adding that:

To escape our operations, some have resorted to hiding their pupils, including locking them up in small rooms or taking them to remote locations away from the Tsangaya school.

KDSG feared that this may endanger the pupils and has been deploying strategies to save these pupils. Alaramma Umar Musa Mai Kalanzir, claimed he had sent all his pupils back to their parents, unfortunately, this tragic events showed otherwise.

While noting that the malam will be prosecuted, she maintained that operatives of the state task force have since effected the arrest of Umar Mai Kalanzir and have started investigations.

We will prosecute the Alaramma and seek the maximum punishment ascribed by the law for his crimes, this will not be allowed to go unpunished.

Going forward, we will double down on all operators of these Tsangaya as no life is unimportant to us. The KDSG will not allow children’s lives to be endangered. By this statement, any Alaramma caught attempting to hid his pupils will be arrested and prosecuted immediately.

The KDSG will also release guidelines of the minimum requirements to operate a Tsangaya in Kaduna State. This has been in the works but with current findings, no one will be allowed to operate a Tsangaya in the State until full compliance to these minimums are ensured,

she added.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.