By; BUHARI B. BELLO, Jos
Jamaátu Nasril Islam (JNI) is working on some modalities, which will come up with a report on how to end the menace of Almajiri children that are scattered in most parts of the streets of northern Nigeria, Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, has said.
The JNI secretary stated this while respnding to questions from the media at the opening of a one week enlightenment for the prevention of violence against children in Plateau State, tagged:”State Sensitization/Awareness Creation for Leadership of JNI on Ending Violence against Children,’ held at the Conference of Jos Central Mosque.
He said the programme is a follow up, on the 2017 Central council of JNI being chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, where a resolution was taken to face the menace of Almajiri head on.
“A high powered committee was set to look at this and all those that matter were invited from the ministers down to educationists, parents and others.
“The meeting is on, even the day before yesterday, we adjourned from one and we are about to come out with the report which will be applied in collaboration with the northern state governors and all stakeholders.”
He said in his paper presentation titled; “Ending Violence Against Children: The Islamic Perspective,” Khalid, said Islam places the responsibility on parents to ensure proper upbringing of the child, right from birth up to maturity adding.
“Especially in the first six years of a child’s formation. A child in Islam has a right to education, proper feeding, protection against aggression and child labour as well as any other form of inhuman treatment,” he stressed.
State JNI Director of Publicity, Sani Mud, said the awareness campaign is expected to cover Mangu, Riyom, Jos North and Wase as focal LGA’s in Plateau.
The UNICEF Nigeria- Bauchi field office, Mr. Drissa Yeo in his speech said the campaign followed a 2014 survey conducted by the National Population Commission which indicated a high prevalence of sexual, physical, and emotional violence against children in Nigeria.
