This is not the first time the issue of the Almajiri System in Nigeria has caught the attention of my pen. I wrote ‘The Almajiri Syndrome’ at the early turn of the millennium while ‘sweating it out’ at the Hague University School of Graduate Studies.

At the risk of vituperations,  vexatious reactions and clergy condemnations from religious and traditional jingoists both from and outside of the box, I smarted up, wrote and damned the expected reactionary consequences.

After a little over two decades on, the report is sadly worse than it was then,  in multiples. The Almajiri has remained the most abused personae in Nigeria’s North and beyond. Abused and abandoned, he has been forced to turn into monsters separately called Boko Haram, Bandit, Shekau, Turji and many more to come. The Almajiri would rather be deleted than exist.

The Almajiri system, we were told had a genuine intention of educating the young as the intent, ab initio, through a collegiate system of sending young children as early as 4 years to strange environments to be taught religious and Arabic education through equally, a strange tutelage of a Teacher,  hundreds of miles a far. Whether the intention and concept were right at inception are not the subject of debate here, but what has become of them today.

The Almajiri is the most visible tragedy seen on the streets of all northern Nigerian cities and beyond. They litter at garages, ATM centers, Hotels, brothels, motor parks, Go-slow gridlocks  and even Church and Mosque gates.

They often end up as street urchins (area boys), male prostitutes, petty and hard criminals, garage boys and most recently, Boko Haram, Iswap and Bandits as well as dangerous tools for desperate politicians to get at one another’s’ throats.

From the traditional/ religious leaders to the elites within government, corporate businesses and the academia, we are all guilty in this.

We are not naïve, but afraid to say the truth. We pretend in identifying with the sufferings of the Almajiri, while in reality we enjoy seeing him continue to suffer so that he becomes different with our children. We align the system to religion dogmatically, while ignoring the fault lines. We have been lying to ourselves, consciously.

I stand to be corrected, but have you seen any Almajiri born of parents from of urban and or semi urban dwellings? Why is it only parents from remote villages send their children to this channel of no return?

The system, as it is, has continued to cause embarrassment and mockery to us and our faith, if the truth must be told. The fate of these vulnerable creatures lay on the crests of our shoulders and heads. The system most be reviewed, modified and remodeled to conform with present realities and challenges. Happy New Year

*Maishanu, BBA,(IBMS),MBA (The Hague) is a former Commissioner for Information, Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources in Sokoto State.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/01/the-almajiri-catastrophe-in-northern-nigeria/

Na former kommisional be dis.

their leaders don't give a flying f××k about them, they're more interested in restoring 1963 cattle route and creation of ruga settlements.

Their leaders are the problem, they knows what they are doing,can they call their own children Almajiri?

The Almajiri system is a crucial part of the structure of the North. It is a critical department that produces brainwashed, ready to die foot soldiers to pander to the whims of the Elite. The outright rejection of the Jonathan schools (fostered by a CHRISTIAN) should tell you one thing..... THE NORTH LOVE THE SYSTEM AND IT WILL NEVER GO AWAY!

Na their NYSC be that.

From there na straight enlistment into their military/Boko haram and bandit security arm.

When this thing go finally implode very well, na the elites wey dey look away now go collect from their hand.

Talk about reaping according to ones sowing.

Their self inflicted problem.See as they will called this fella IPOB now.

Nobody can stop Almajiri in the North. It will perpetually remain with the North until they make education compulsory and they encourage family planning

Until the north start dealing with their own unique issues, there will never be a solution to their problems. So don't sweat it out over and over again oga.

When a people decide to drop der brain n employ a system from 16th century as der preferred way of life dis is d result…. Insecurity…banditry and poverty… No sympathy..

Vg

The Almajiri system in the north is not a menace

The North are gaining from it and are not ready to end it

We remember what happened to Sanusi for speaking against it and he would have been killed if not for his status and how prominent his family is in the North

As the South are busy going to school,that is exactly how the north is raising Almajiris both for election purposes and religious purposes and also as armed unit to defend the North if need be, just as it would have been the case if Goodluck Jonathan has won the 2015 election or had refused to step down for Buhari

This is nobody's fault..... Because your elites are using them for their personal interest....

It's either you reduce the number of birth over there...or you increase bride price to regulate how young and immature youths gets married...Or you reduce the number of wives to be married by a single man according to the religion over there....

Anyway,

You want this Almajiris for political gain.... You want high population to win more seats at the NASS....

Consensus is coming very soon... let's see if you'll complain about the population....

testing, testing.....so my ban on nairaland has ended

Ok

G

The system is coming back to bite them in the ass.

Enough recruitment base for Boko Haram and iswap plus bandits.

The child you refuse to train today will hunt you tomorrow.

The northerners are really stupid honestly,
You see them begging and constituting nuisance everywhere in this country and yet their leaders sees nothing wrong with it

Ok.

Please, Mr Seun, I have a serious question.. If someborry swear for your Mod would it work?

.

Same old pestering problem. Sadly, no one cares.

Leave them nah, wetin concern vanguard and north, they should focus reporting news from their region

Nothing but the sad truth, the north is the most backward in Nigeria

SEUNMSG WHATS YOUR OPINION ON THIS VERY TOPIC

Breakup this fcking terrorist country for Christ sake

Hmm

.

Still don’t understand the reason,meaning and mission of almajiri, or what it sets to accomplish.

I always wonder where they get their personnel boko and the rest, I wonder no more.

The monster you created.

They are not abused in anyway rather they're the ones abusing the society, they're baby Terrorists used by Boko Haram and northerners to achieve nefarious objectives. I remember my mopol friend told me how these Boko Haram guys chased them some where in yobe state and some of the security personnels ran into the bushes while some ran into the town, he told me the almajiris that they gave food were the ones who pointed the officers that took cover in the town to Boko Haram for final finishing. They're bloody Terrorists that should all be wiped off as a major hit against northern Terrorists, kill the Terrorists children and see Boko Haram Terrorists recruitment come to an end. Bitch ass kids, I love north except the dirty kids tying empty plates on their necks begging all over the north