* Say: It’ll destroy North if not scrapped
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. Muhammed Babandede, has warned that the northern Nigeria would be doomed if the almajiri culture of education is not abolished.
Babandede stated this after receiving an award organised by the ‘Youth Coalition for Development (YCD) held in Dutse, Jigawa State capital.
He, however, blamed some religious leaders for encouraging street begging through the almajiri system, while shielding their wards from the lifestyle.
Almajiri is largely a vagrant lifestyle whereby kids of impressionable ages are encouraged to roam the streets begging for food and alms, under the guise of religious education. It is common in the northern part of Nigeria.
In fact, many top personalities from the northern region have condemned the practice, calling for its scrapping.
Babandede said: “I have often asked those clerics that frown at those of us criticizing the almajirai system to show me their children who were in the same trend but the answer is always none,” he insisted.
“The North is on the brink of destroying itself if this ‘culture is not stopped,” Babandede warned.
He said almajirai students are known for ageless learning periods without graduating the students which is the more reason that they become vulnerable for easy recruitment into negative vices such as insurgency, banditry and homosexuality.
He, therefore, tasked the northern governors to work towards abolishing the almajirai culture, failing which, he warned, the region would not know peace.