6 hours ago
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The Kano State government has formally handed over the 76 minors arrested during the End Bad Governance protest to their parents in the state.
LEADERSHIP Friday reported that the minors were kept for about two weeks at the Muhammad Buhari Specialist Hospital, Ginginyu, for medical examination and recovery after being in detention for about three months in Abuja.
When he handed them over at the medical facility on Thursday, the governor, who his chief of Staff represented, Shehu Shagagi, tasked them with being law-abiding and avoiding all unlawful protest in the future.
He said the state would sponsor the education of reformed minors, while those who completed NCE would be recruited during the next recruiting exercise in the state.
He lamented the devastating impact of the protest in Kano. He attributed it to a lack of education, stressing the need for the state and federal government to rise to the challenge of tackling unemployment and providing quality education.
While reiterating the government’s commitment to uplifting the standard of education, he said the state had set aside more than 30 per cent of its 2025 budget for the sector. Therefore, he directed the education commissioner to follow up with the children on their educational pursuits.
Meanwhile, the governor also warned parents of the minors to desist from forming any parents’ association to seek any form of support or donations for their children, saying the government will not likely take it with any found wanting.
At the event, Barrister Hamza Nuhu, leader of the human rights lawyers’ team, told the minors that protests are legal but cautioned against disruption and violence.
“Legally, protest is not a crime. However, it becomes a crime when it involves disruption. I urge the teenagers to embrace peace-building efforts,” he said
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, noted that all the minors were successfully given medical attention and are all right.
Nura Ahmad, speaking on behalf of the parents, expressed gratitude to the federal and state governments as well as stakeholders for their efforts in securing the minors’ release, rehabilitation, and reunion with their families.
