The Christian Association of Nigeria, Anambra State chapter has asked the Kano State Government to stop distributing almajirai to other parts of the c
The Christian Association of Nigeria, Anambra State chapter has asked the Kano State Government to stop distributing almajirai to other parts of the country, alleging that almajirai from Kano State were being shipped down to other parts of the country, ThePunch is reporting
President Muhammadu Buhari had recently imposed a restriction on inter-state trips to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The order had also coincided with the relocation of almajirai by several Northern states.
The body in a statement by its Chairman, Rev Ndubuisi John, wondered the reason behind such act, putting into consideration the health and security implications of such act. The statement read in part, “Inasmuch as we commiserate with Kano State over the loss of their loved ones to mysterious deaths and COVID -19, we still want to know, what the cogent excuse for Kano State to permit trailers loaded with human beings which many of them were coronavirus carriers to leave the Kano State borders and crossing over sister states in Nigeria to penetrate their cities.
“Could this be a palliative measure to decongest the coronavirus from suffocating its orbits? Can any blind man in Nigeria deny hearing the horrifying jingles of COVID-19 in Nigeria and global wise? Can the deaf and dumb men and women deny seeing the masses in the streets of the cities of Nigeria putting on face masks, washing of hands and using sanitizers? Would the elites claim ignorant of the Federal Government’s efforts in proffering measures in combating this horrible and deadly virus in the country?”
Dislodged from the North, as governors in the region move urgently to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of almajirai trying to find new havens in the South have been prevalent. Over the past week, bus/truckloads of humans coming from the northern Nigeria, particularly from Kano State, have been intercepted at the Eastern and Western borders of Nigeria and all of them being turned back to where they originated from. These humans are usually hidden among cows being transported into the states for sale.
Just yesterday, the Enugu State government intercepted by security operatives and turned back nine busloads of about 300 almajirai around the Enugu-Benue boundaries, particularly at Udenu, Igbo-Eze North and Nsukka Local Government Area, following a failed attempt to sneak them into the state.
Abia State on Tuesday intercepted some buses bringing in about 100 almajirai into the state. The Commissioner for Information John Okiyi said the travellers were turned back because a presidential order banning inter-state transport was still in force. He added that the state’s Ministry of Homeland Affairs had been mobilised to beef up security at the boundaries.
Also, the Cross River State government reportedly turned back five truckloads of almajirai and other passengers from the North.
In a scenario underscoring the desperation to relocate the almajirai from the North, the Benue State’s COVID-19 Action Committee Wednesday night intercepted 14 almajirai who were allegedly being smuggled into the state.
Reacting to the movement of almajirai to the South, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, urged governors of the region to boost security at their boundaries to prevent entry by unauthorised persons.
