Police rescue 15 children from torture centre in Niger

The Niger state Police command have uncovered an  torture centre where 15 children were rescued from captivity.

The centre, according to information made available to Daily Trust, is located at new Angwa Kwamba in Suleja and it houses a number of Almajiris from two years and above.

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Findings revealed that the children had undergone series of torture from their master.

The Almajiris were seen with wounds on their backs, some of which have dried up while different irons used in carrying out various types of torture on the children were discovered by the police who visited the house following some complaints by some residents of the area.

The police public relations officer in the state, ASP Wasiu Abiodun said the command acted on reliable information received on Saturday.

He said the Police Operatives attached to ‘A’ Division Suleja arrested one Umar Ahmed aged 46yrs ‘m’ of Anguwan Gwari Suleja, for keeping about fifteen (15) children in a dehumanizing condition in the guise of Almajiri School.

“The children who are of ages ranging between 2yrs-10yrs were rescued from the suspects house, and three chains used to tie their legs were also recovered. The victims were handed over to Niger State Child Right Agency.

“The case is under investigation and suspect will soon be arraigned in court for prosecution as soon as investigation is concluded, please,” Abiodun said.

COVID-19: Why Almajiris are relocating to South West/South East – SERAP

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has said that The question of interstate travel is a question of survival. People may think survival in a certain part of Nigeria is more favourable and conducive to their lives.

According to Saharareporters, SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said such movement might be reduced if Northern states they migrate from take the survival of the almajiris more seriously.

The group was reacting to the legality of interstate deportation as state governments take initiatives to prevent the spread of Coronavirus by deporting youths hidden in trucks that tried to gain entry to their territories.

Mumuni said, “The question of interstate travel is a question of survival. People may think survival in a certain part of Nigeria is more favourable and conducive to their lives and that is the only reason they want to move about.

“The better thing is if the government of the state in which they come from take the welfare and well-being of citizens seriously so that the question of almajiris and their problems are solved.

“When states they come from take their survival more serious, they will be able to live and subsist in their state by not only living but good living.”

“So, if people are being returned to their states of origin when we have a public health emergency, we won’t blame the government for that.

“That’s the way it can be eradicated but if you say they are moving to other parts of Nigeria for survival, that they have to do as Nigerians because there is no functional law that says a citizen of another state cannot go to another state to survive.

“Security agents are bound to carry out legitimate order (of the ban on inter-state travelling) and while they are carrying it out, they must ensure that they do not deliberately maltreat Nigerians in the name of enforcing the order.”

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