190 repatriated ‘almajiris’ arrive Bauchi from Jos
One hundred and ninety ‘almajiri” pupils evacuated from Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state have arrived Bauchi state.
This was disclosed in a press release on Sunday by the Senior Special Assistant to the state governor on Media, Alhaji Muktar Gidado.
Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela, who received the pupils at General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College, Bauchi, said the pupils would undergo medical screening and other necessary investigations before handing them over to their respective parents.
Senator Tela, who is the chairman of the task force on Lassa fever and COVID-19 response team, said accommodation has been provided for the pupils pending when they would be declared safe to be reunited with their parents.
The deputy governor while stating that the gesture is aimed at ensuring that the pupils are not infected with the COVID-19 virus, called on islamic clerics to comply with the state government’s ban of ‘almajiri’ activities in the state.
“We have just received 190 ‘almajiris’ who are indigenes of our state. What we intend doing is to verify their health condition to ensure they are not infected with the deadly coronavirus before we release them to their parents.
“This shows that the policy of ‘almajiri’ will be enforced as all the northern governors have agreed on banning their activities in their respective states,” Senator Tela added.
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The deputy governor directed all ulamas with ‘almajiris’ to with immediate effect, return them to their respective states, assuring that the state government will take care of their transportation.
“Henceforth, from tomorrow, Bauchi state government will commence evacuation of all ‘almajiri’ pupils to their various states of origin,” he noted.
On the level of compliance with the partial lockdown of the state, the deputy governor said a magistrate court would be set up to ensure total adherence to the order.
According to him, the decision is to ensure compliance with the protocol of social distancing as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the state.
