Headlines
Abducted Kano children: MURIC condemns ‘kidnapping for Christ’
Nasiru Yusuf
An Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the abduction of nine Muslim children who had been kidnapped in Kano, converted to Christianity and sold in Onitsha, Anambra state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Kano Police Command has rescued nine of the hundreds of children abducted in Nassarawa and Ungoggo local government areas of Kano metropolis.
MURIC director, Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, described the abduction as nauseating, wicked and reprehensible.
Mr Akintola, a professor of Islamic studies described the abduction as an extension of the ‘Nigeria for Christ’ slogan by some Christian evangelists.
Kano CSOs to ensure justice for children abducted to Onitsha
He however noted that not all Christians are involved in the act, as many adherents of Christianity are decent and peace-loving and will never descend so low as to seize, convert and sell Muslim children.
“We therefore appeal to Muslims throughout the federation to dispassionately separate the wheat from the chaff. This Kano 9 incident should not be allowed to generate animosity between them and their Christian neighbours. Neither should it ignite spontaneous attacks on non-indigenes in Muslim majority areas.
“Nonetheless, MURIC charges Muslim parents to be security conscious particularly around their children. Mallams in charge of Islamiyyah schools and madrasahs all over Nigeria are urged to do head-counting before the commencement of classes and immediately after.” He stated.
More children yet to be rescued
MURIC also argued that the Kano 9 imbroglio could not have been the first.
“We have every reason to contend that the Kano 9 imbroglio is not the first. The systematic abduction of Muslim children has been going on long before 2014. These Christian kidnappers are methodical and meticulous. They study the environment for some time and plan their escape routes with microscopic accuracy.
“The Kano 9 were just lucky to have been found. Thousands have disappeared without trace. There must be other criminal syndicates like those caught recently. The identities of Muslim kids are changed once they are abducted. They are then given Christian names and sold away to human traffickers and ritualists. It is another angle to the crusade against Muslims and it changes the narrative.
“We appeal to the security agencies to provide adequate security around Islamiyyah schools and protect Muslim children from Christian abductors. The Kano 9 culprits must face the full wrath of the law. There must be no cover-up.” The statement added.
Civil Society hypocrisy
MURIC also mocked some activists and civil society organizations for being selective.
“We are miffed by the attitude of some members of civil society and human rights activists. They raise hell and brimstone when a single Christian is involved in what looks like a denial but look the other way when thousands of Muslims are deprived. This is selective activism. It is sheer playing to the gallery.
“Nigerians will recall the hullabaloo that followed the Ese Oruru saga in March 2016. Where are the advocates of girl-child rights who nearly brought down the ceilings of heaven over a mere case of elopement? Where are the human rights lawyers today?” the statement rhetorically asked”.
MURIC has also appealed to police to prosecute those arrested over the Kano 9 palaver and provide adequate protection for Islamiyyah school children.
On Friday, Kano Police commissioner Ahmed Ilyasu paraded six suspects accused with abducting children in Kano and taking them to Onitsha, where they were sold and converted to Christianity.
Aged between 2 to 10 years old the children were said to have been kidnapped from various locations within the State capital at different time.
Some of the children had gone missing since 2014, but were traced down to Anambra State where they had been sold off.
Report says some of the children have lost connection with their family as one of them failed to recognize his mother.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) has recorded 37% increase in number of its enrolees in the last 15 months.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Executive Secretary of the Agency Dr. Rahila Aliyu Mukhtar revealed this during a consultative engagement with organised labour on how to improve the healthcare service in the scheme.
She explained that, the primary services accessed by the enrolees under the scheme from 2022 to second quarter of 2024 stands at 1,852,485, while secondary healthcare services accessed stands at 28, 932 across the engaged healthcare providers.
In his remark, the Commissioner State Ministry of Health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf assured government support and commitment toward the successful implementation of the scheme and general improvement of healthcare services.
On his part, the State Head of Service Alhaji Abdullahi Musa said Kano state government government attached priority attention to the welfare of workers, adding that, the Contributory Healthcare scheme was not meant for workers alone but all residents of Kano.
He also solicited the support and cooperation of labour unions in order to move KSCHMA to greater height.
Also speaking the chairman Nigeria labour Congress (NLC) Kano state council Comrade Kabiru Inuwa, said that, the union being the major contributor of the scheme would not fold it arms while their members suffered in accessing the needed care.
He reiterated their commitment to ensure that their members received what they deserved by the healthcare providers.
Highlight of the event include paper presentation and group work on implementation of the scheme; challenges and recommendation.
A statement sent to KANO FOCUS by the public relations officer of the agency Nura Muhammad Yusuf said the workshop was conducted with support from FCDO Lafiya.
Aminu Abdullahi
The United Nations Children’s Fund has trained over 40 educational stakeholders under the Educational and Youth Empowerment Project (EYE).
KANO FOCUS reports that the participants undergone two day training on school safety, security, and climate literacy to ensure effective teaching and learning as well as safety of schools in the North West.
The state education facilitator of EU EYE, Aisha Abdullahi, said that the programme is funded by the European Union and supported by UNICEF, while the education partners such as the federal and state ministry of education, SUBEB, and other education stakeholders implemented the program.
She explained that the two-day programme is to train EYE teachers from various local governments and schools who will step down the training to their colleagues on school safety.
On his part, Cacsar Akuduke Executive Director of Talents in Children Promotion, said a lot of schools are not safe, and the program tends to address the shortcomings, building more knowledge and awareness among the stakeholders in education in the provision of the necessary guidelines as contained in the minimal standard for safe schools.
He added that although there are no cases of violence or serious attacks in schools in Kano State, the training will assist the participants with precautionary measures.
In his message, the Kano State Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, who was represented by the Director of Education Support Services, Hajiya Halima Sadiyya Tukur, said that their efforts have significantly and vividly improved access to quality education for many children, particularly those in underserved communities by addressing challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, teacher training, and gender disparities in education, adding that UNICEF has helped in creating a brighter future for these young learners.
The commissioner said the positive changes resulting from government initiatives will undoubtedly have a long-term effect on the lives of children and the overall development of the state.
He corroborated that their commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive is commendable.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
A Kano based Non-Governmental Organisation, Bridge Connect Africa Initiative has launched Women Against Violence Empowerment through Sustainability (WAVES) project – a five month capacity building initiative focused on supporting survivors of gender-based violence, those at risk, and women involved in small-scale agribusinesses in Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Chief Operating Officer of the group, Fatima Musa Aliyu unveiled the project on Tuesday.
She said, “We are dedicated to protecting women and girls from all forms of violence. Over the past five years, BCAI has been a leading advocate for women and girls in Kano State, addressing gender-based violence and other harmful practices that disproportionately affect them.
“Supported by the Government of Canada through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CPRLI), the WAVES project aims to foster a thriving ecosystem of empowered women in Kano, promoting economic security and combating gender-based violence (GBV) through training in GBV prevention, financial literacy, business development, and sustainable agricultural practices.
“According to UNICEF, women and girls face significant gender Inequalities, with 1 in 3 women reporting experiences of GBV. Between November 2022 and February 2023, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) recorded 171 cases of GBV.
“According to another report by the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Kano State Chapter, Kano State WARAKA Sexual Assault Refferral Center documented over 4,000 cases of sexual violence in the last five years.”
She added that evidence shows that societal norms, economic challenges, and even climate change are some of the factors among others that keep many women trapped in cycles of poverty and dependence, increasing their risk of gender-based violence. While some seek survival through small-scale agribusiness, their efforts are often hindered by limited skills and market access, leading to continued vulnerability and exploitation.
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