The decision of the Taraba state government to reject ‘almajiri’ children transferred from Nasarawa state has caused a stir. The rejected children were brought to Taraba’s capital, Jalingo, from Nasarawa’s capital, Lafia. According to reports, the Nasarawa officials did not follow proper protocol, leading to the rejection of the children. They had to sleep outside the office of the Secretary to the Taraba State Government and were only attended to the next day.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary to Government of Nasarawa State, the Taraba government highlighted that the number of pupils brought to the state was 79, not 102 as stated in the letter from Nasarawa state. The government of Taraba State insisted on returning the pupils and requested proper profiling, including their local government of origin and individual status in relation to the pandemic.
An official from Nasarawa State expressed disappointment with the development, stating that the ‘almajiris’ had been isolated and tested for coronavirus, with all of them testing negative. They further mentioned that the children were not provided with food and were left inside the vehicles that transported them for several hours, only to be rejected, despite being indigenes of the state.
In response, Taraba’s commissioner of information, Danjuma Adamu, justified the rejection, citing the failure of Nasarawa officials to follow due protocol. He emphasized the need for accurate information regarding the children’s numbers, health status, and their respective local government areas.
The rejection of the ‘almajiri’ children highlights the importance of observing proper procedures when transferring individuals between states, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.