Sahara Reporters recently disclosed on its official X handle the disheartening revelation made by the Commander-General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Aminu Daurawa. According to him, over 230 children rescued from the streets of Kano metropolis remain unclaimed, sparking concerns about parental neglect and societal decay.
In a deeply emotional video, the prominent Islamic scholar recounted how Hisbah officers conducted a midnight operation across major streets, motor parks, markets, railway stations, and under flyovers. During the raid, children as young as 10 to 15 years old were found wandering aimlessly or sleeping in precarious conditions.
Daurawa lamented, “Not a single parent has approached us or any state institution to claim paternity of these children. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Our investigations reveal there are approximately 5,000 such children living in public places across Kano. Unfortunately, our facilities could only accommodate 230 of them during this initial operation.”
The rescued children, many of whom were born and raised in dire circumstances, reflect a systemic failure to address child welfare. Daurawa painted a bleak picture of their upbringing: “Some of these children were born and brought up in places like railway stations, under bridges, and motor parks. Others were found in football viewing centers, where paying for a match also meant securing a place to sleep. Their plight is heartbreaking and demands urgent action.”
Tragically, four of the children succumbed to illnesses caused by extreme weather conditions, malnutrition, and lack of access to basic healthcare before they could be rescued. Daurawa described the rescue operation, which took place between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., as a race against time: “At those hours, every child is supposed to be home with their parents. Yet, we found hundreds scattered across the city, exposed to unimaginable risks.”
Before embarking on the rescue mission, the Hisbah Board reportedly secured the approval and support of the Kano State Governor. The operation also involved consultations with community leaders in the affected areas to ensure transparency and cooperation.
Daurawa emphasized that the children are victims of neglect, not criminals: “We are not here to criminalize these children but to save them from a cycle of poverty, abuse, and exploitation. Their innocence has been stolen by circumstances beyond their control.”
The absence of parents coming forward to claim these children underscores a growing crisis of accountability and parental neglect. Hisbah’s findings shine a spotlight on the urgent need for comprehensive policies to address child homelessness, strengthen family support systems, and rehabilitate vulnerable minors.
Daurawa’s appeal resonates as a wake-up call for society: “These children are our collective responsibility. The question is, what are we as a community doing to protect them?”
As Hisbah prepares for subsequent operations, the Kano State government and relevant stakeholders must rise to the challenge of creating a sustainable framework to reintegrate these children into society and ensure no child is left behind.
This heartbreaking episode underscores the urgent need for national discourse on the welfare of Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens: its children.
PIONEER NEWS 