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EXCLUSIVE: How Northern woman was arrested ‘trying to sell 2 boys’ in Anambra
By Nazifi Dawud
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a northern woman allegedly trying to sell two boys, between the ages of two and four, with the help of two native female collaborators.
Speaking exclusively to Kano Focus on Saturday, Haruna Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, said the woman (whose name was not revealed) could not give a satisfactory explanation of her relationship to the rescued boys.
This development came just as Governor Abdullahi Ganduje formed a committee to probe the abduction, renaming and forceful conversion of nine native Kano children to Christianity by an Igbo criminal gang, who were arrested by the Kano State Police Command.
The nine children were also sold into slavery in Onistsha, Anambra state, before they were rescued by the police.
Mr Mohammed, a superintendent of police (SP) said the northern woman was believed to have trafficked the two kids from the Northern part of the country to sell them off in Anambra, in cahoots with other members of the trafficking syndicate.
According to him, the northern woman had claimed that one of the boys was her biological son, while the other was the son of her elder sister, who she claimed to be deceased.
SP Mohammed however, said the northern suspect failed to reveal the name of her son’s father, saying she had the boy out of wedlock and could not remember who his father was.
“We asked her the name of her husband, meaning the father of the boy she claimed was her son, but she said she didn’t know the boy’s father because she had him out of wedlock,” he said.
“We believe that she has no relationship with both boys. We suspect that she brought the victims from the north to sell them with the help of the two other woman who are natives,” Mr Mohammed added.
He said the police did not reveal the identities of the suspects so as to get to other members of the criminal kidnap network.
“We are currently interrogating them. If we reveal their names, it might cause other members of the criminal syndicate to flee,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Mohammed, in a statement had said the three women were nabbed on Tuesday by police detectives at Nkpor market/Tarzan junction in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state.
“On the 22/10/2019 at about 10:45am,following intelligence report Police detectives attached to CMU Anambra State Command arrested three female suspects at Nkpor market/Tarzan junction in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.
“Suspects were arrested with two kids all males whose age ranges between 2 and 4 years respectively.
“They could neither give satisfactory explanation about the children nor where they got them.
“Case is under investigation after which suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police CP John B.Abang,fdc urges Parents whose children got missing and fall within the above age bracket to report at the PPRO office State Command headquarters Awka for proper identification and collect their children, please,” the statement read.
Following the rescue of the nine Kano children, parents of other missing children in the state released a list and photos of 47 more children suspected to have been abducted and sold in Anambra state. Mr Ganduje’s committee is expected to probe all cases of missing children from 2010 to date.
Aminu Abdullahi
The adolescent girls initiative for learning and empowerment AGILE has been described as a major catalyst to educational development.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Muhammad Isa Umaru, made the indication while receiving AGILE team in his palace.
According to him, Kano has witnessed significant progress in girl child education facilitated by AGILE, hence the need for traditional institutions and relevant stakeholders to contribute their quota to achieve the desired objectives.
He noted that, Rano Emirate has been at the forefront of ensuring enrollment retention and completion of girls education through various initiatives.
The emir called on the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) to upgrade the girls school in his community.
The monarch said, the school, located beside the palace, requires expansion to accommodate a larger number of students.
The traditional ruler suggested that AGILE should visit the school to assess its condition, saying that, relocating the school to a bigger location had been earlier considered.
In his remarks the permanent secretary Kano state ministry of education Alhaji Bashir Baffa explained that, they were at the palace to seek for support and blessings form the royal father.
He said, AGILE has fostered an enabling environment for girls through promoting behavioral changes through communication campaigns engagement with traditional rulers and advocacy.
He maintained that, the team has embarked on advocacy visits to all relevant stakeholders at community and state levels on the importance of girls education.
Alhaji Baffa hinted that the state government had declared a state of emergency on education, hence the need for the traditional institution to contribute its quota to achieve the desired objectives.
He posited that, the team will visit the school to see possible ways of intervening for the development of education.
The permanent secretary also used the opportunity to condole Rano emirate over the killing of its indigenes in Uromi.
KANO FOCUS reports that, earlier the team has paid a similar visit to Karaye Emirate council as part of efforts to advocate for support from the traditional institution and relevant stakeholders.
Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
The Kano State Ministry of Education’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, supported by the World Bank, has successfully renovated over 1,300 senior and junior secondary schools in the state in the last three years.
KANO FOCUS reports that the state commissioner for education, Alhaji Ali Haruna Makoda, disclosed this during a visit to the Karaye Emirate on Tuesday.
He added that the AGILE program has enrolled more than 30,000 girls through targeted outreach, grants, and its Second Chance education initiative.
Makoda further revealed that the state government has finalized plan to construct 130 new schools in rural communities, with over 35,000 girls already benefiting from financial assistance under the scheme.
He urged the Karaye Emirate to lend full support to the program and prioritize girls’ education.
In his remarks, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammad Maharaz, pledged the emirate’s commitment to advancing girls’ education in Kano State.
He commended the state government and the commissioner for their dedication to the programme’s success.
“It is our collective responsibility to support this initiative,” the Emir stated, calling for measures to ensure beneficiaries complete their education with strong academic outcomes.
The commissioner’s delegation consist of the Kano State AGILE Project Coordinator, Malam Mujitapha Aminu and other members of State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU).
Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
Bayero University Kano (BUK) on Monday celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Faculty of Education and inaugurated its Alumni Association at the Convocation Arena of the university’s new campus.
KANO FOCUS reports that the event was graced by government officials, education stakeholders, and alumni all gathered to commemorate the faculty’s contributions to Nigeria’s educational sector.
In her keynote address, the State Minister for Education, Mrs. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad announced the Federal Government’s Sector Renewal Initiative designed to transition Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.
She highlighted that the aim of the renewal initiative consists of – Reducing the number of out-of-school children; combating learning poverty; nhancing skills development and human capital for the labor market
The minister noted that the initiative prioritizes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Digital literacy and education quality assurance.
Mrs. Ahmad disclosed that the Federal Government had disbursed ₦35 billion to 261 beneficiaries under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with BUK among the top beneficiaries.
“So far, the scheme has received 420 applications, and we are scaling up investments,” she stated.
She further confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved ₦120 billion to boost TVET programs, with plans to train 650 youths in technical, vocational, and digital skills over the next two years.
Emeritus Professor Sani Ahmad Sufi, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, praised the faculty for its high-quality graduates.
“Our pride lies not just in the number of graduates produced yearly, but in their impact across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
He added that the faculty has produced Nigeria’s largest pool of graduate teachers many of whom hold key positions nationally and internationally.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje applauded the faculty for its significant role in advancing education in Nigeria.
The event concluded with awards presented to distinguished alumni and supporters of the faculty in recognition of their contributions to its growth.
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