Olayiwola Matthew
A recent operation by the Kano State Hisbah Board has rescued over 230 children from the streets, but surprisingly, none of their parents have come forward to claim them.
The Commander-General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Aminu Daurawa, expressed his dismay at the situation, stating that the children were mostly under 15 years old and had been living in public places like railway stations, markets, and motor parks.
“Whoever saw what happened some weeks ago of the 230 children picked up, all of which are not up to 15 years… This is just the first instance. We have traced and understand that there are about 5000 of such children,” Daurawa said.
He further explained that the Governor had made necessary preparations before the operation, and the children were picked up from various locations, including railway lines, under bridges, markets, and motor parks.
Sadly, four of the rescued children were confirmed dead due to heat, cold weather, sickness, and other related illnesses.
Daurawa noted that the operation was carried out between 1 am and 3 am, a time when every child should be at home with their parents.
Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential aide and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the situation as heartbreaking. “So I watched that deeply moving video of Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, where he narrated a heartbreaking story about the recent Hisbah operation in Kano, which rescued over 250 children from the streets who were abandoned by their parents,” Ahmad said.
Ahmad commended the Kano State Government for its efforts and hoped that the initiative would serve as an eye-opener for critical discussions on the menace. He emphasized that while the government alone can not address all issues, it has the power to rally support from capable individuals and organizations to tackle the challenge collectively.