By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has said the first batch of 279 Almajiris have been evacuated.
This as he said 243 out of the aforementioned figure were sent to their home States of Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna.
It would be recalled that Governor Lalong had stated on the 23rd April, 2020, during a statewide broadcast, that “Considering the grave danger that Almajiri children are exposed to as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, I am directing the immediate profiling and return of all Almajiris from Plateau State to their respective States of origin to join their families and guardians.
“Accordingly, I have set up a Committee for the immediate profiling and return of Almajiris to be headed by Brig. General Salihu Inusa (rtd)”, he maintained.
According to him, “This action is in tandem with the resolution of the Northern Governors Forum, which agreed to act in unison to protect these vulnerable children and further reduce the chances for the spread of the disease”, he stressed.
However in a statewide broadcast on Thursday, 30th April, 2020, the Governor informed the citizenry that, “The profiling and return of Almajiris has commenced and shall continue until the last Almajiri is relocated.
According to him, “On 26th April 2020, the first batch of 279 Almajiris were evacuated. Out of this number, 243 were sent home to their States of Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna, while 36 were sent to their Local Governments in Wase and Kanam in the State”.
