The Bauchi State Government has received a total of 190 Almajiris who were evacuated from Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state.
The State Deputy Governor Senator Baba Tela while receiving the pupils at General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College Bauchi, said that the pupils would undergo medical screening and other necessary investigation before handover to their respective parents.
Senator Baba Tela who is the Chairman of the Task Force said accommodation has been arranged for the pupils until they were declared safe to reunite with their parents.
The Deputy Governor said the gesture was aimed at ensuring that pupils were not infected with the COVID-19 virus and called on Islamic clerics to comply with the government on banning of Almajiri activities in the state.
“We have just received 190 Almajiris who are indigenes of our state, what we intend to do is to verify their health condition and 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 Almajiri activities in their respective States,” he said.
Senator Tela used the medium to direct 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.”
On the level of compliance on 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 was to ensure compliance with the protocol of social distancing as part of the effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state.
