The Kano State government has commenced the evacuation of over 5,000 children roaming the streets of the state capital.
The operation, which began on Monday, involves setting up a temporary centre to house the children and identify their needs.
Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, Chairman of the Kano State Hisbah Board, stated that the minors are under the age of 15 living in streets, bridges and markets across the state capital.
Daurawa expressed concern that leaving these children on the streets could lead to social and security challenges in the future.
BBC Hausa reports that the children will be relocated to a designated centre, where they will undergo assessments to determine their origins and the most suitable interventions.
Sheikh Daurawa noted that some of the children will be enrolled in schools, while others will receive vocational training to equip them with life skills.
Kano, the most populous state in northern Nigeria, has one of the country’s highest rates of out-of-school children.
Despite being a signatory to the Child Rights Act, the state still struggles with widespread child labour and street begging, often under the guise of religious education.
The Hisbah Board has warned that parents who neglect their responsibilities and allow their children to roam the streets could face prosecution.
“Any parent who neglects their duty and lets their child wander the streets despite having the means to care for them will be brought before the court,” Daurawa said.
The board’s boss added that for children without parents or those displaced by conflict, the government plans to provide education and vocational training for them.
