Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, said on Friday that the state has received 61 Almajiris repatriated by the Kano State Government.
The children were received in Birnin Kebbi at the IDP camp in Kalgo by Bagudu and various stakeholders in the state.
According to the governor, the children were tested by the Kano government and duly declared COVID-19 free, before they were repatriated.
He said that those who had tested positive to the disease were left in Kano, receiving treatment and would be repatriated afterwards.
The governor explained that the repatriation of the children to the state by the Kano State government was in line with the recent decision taken by the governors of the 19 northern states.
“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.
READ ALSO: Kano To Deport Another Batch Of 2,000 Almajiris
“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.”
Bagudu also announced that each of the children would be given a token amount of money as a start up base for the continuation of their education.
He said the government will 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 children were handed over to the local government chairmen of their respective areas for onward delivery to their parents.
