The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, on Friday criticized the current expulsion of almajiris from various Northern States to their States of origin due to the spread of COVID-19.It said the expulsion of almajiris by State governments was wrongly-timed.

MURIC urged Northern governors to postpone the expulsion of almajiris until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.The group made the call in a statement signed and sent to DAILY POST by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

MURIC stated that the world would have been a better place if the teachings of Prophet Muhammad were adhered to by the people.Following the outbreak of COVID-19, several States have been repatriating almajiris from their States.

However, MURIC in a statement said: “Many states of the North have been expelling large numbers of almajiris back to their states of origin in recent times. For example, on April 21st, 2020, Kano expelled 432 almajiris to Katsina, 63 to Yobe, 198 to Kaduna, etc. Expectedly, the Northern states are beginning to take responsibility and there is every reason to believe that plans are already on ground to take good care of those almajiris on arrival in their home states.The motive behind it is commendable.

“However, the expulsions have coincided with the COVID-19 outbreak and this is our first concern. The children are being exposed to great danger. To make matters worse, significant numbers of these almajiris are testing positive to coronavirus thereby swelling the COVID-19 caseloads of their receiving states and making the management of this global pandemic more difficult for Nigerian authorities. Unfortunately, some of these almajiris are also escaping to southern states, potentially spreading COVID-19 to every nook and cranny of Nigeria.

“It is clear that the concerned Northern States appeared to have acted without consulting Islamic scholars who are at their beck and call. Islam opposes the idea of leaving a city under plague attack. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned that, ‘If a plague breaks out in a city and you are living there, do not leave it. And if you are about to enter a city and there is a plague there, do not enter there’

“The reported expulsions and arrangement of caravan-like trips for the expulsion of almajiris from some Northern states is therefore ill-advised and badly timed. The exercise is already being abused as some of the almajiris are allegedly escaping southwards. Worse still is the fact that some of them have already tested positive for COVID-19.

“Nigeria would have fared better if we had strictly followed the Islamic teaching on remaining in one place during a plague. Even the world would have been safer today but the phobia for anything Islamic did not allow world powers to take advantage of the wisdom in Islamdom for managing pandemics.

“We appeal to the security agencies to strictly enforce the ban on interstate travels, including stemming the tide of interstate almajiri ‘exports’. Many of the index cases in some states have been traced to people who came in from outside such states. The police have a case to answer, particularly concerning trailers caught with human and animal cargoes in the south during the week. How did they ply the roads that lead to the south with several roadblocks along the line?

“As we round off, we enjoin Northern governors to postpone the expulsion of almajiris until the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Instead, the Federal Government, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the NCDC should collaborate with the concerned Northern states to gather all those almajiris in a few central locations, test them for the Coronavirus, isolate the infected and treat them promptly. That way, this scourge will be nipped in the bud among them and we would have prevented the spread of COVID-19 via infected almajiris to the whole of the country.

“Those in charge of the repatriation of almajiris must also ensure that the latter do not successfully escape down south where nobody understands their culture. We charge Nigerians to exercise patience by refraining from travels around this period and, better still, by staying at home, maintaining social distancing, using facemasks and washing their hands regularly or using sanitisers.”

This is coming at a time when the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai had declared that almajiri system was dead in his State.

“Those in charge of the repatriation of almajiris must also ensure that the latter do not successfully escape down south where nobody understands their culture. 

MURIC stated that the world would have been a better place if the teachings of Prophet Muhammad were adhered to by the people

Tissaia:
Misleading headline. Now the I-pigs and I-goats
Will come and post nonsense.

MURIC stated that the world would have been a better place if the teachings of Prophet Muhammad were adhered to by the people. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, several States have been repatriating almajiris from their States.

They means repatriation of the Almajiris now is bad, because it will spread the disease. It's a teaching of rasurulla that during pandemic it's advise not one to travel away or travel in to the affected areas.

Before commenting read the article.

helinues:


Is practicing of Almajiri system part of Muhammad's preaching?

“What the Northern governors Forum has determined is to end this (Almajiri) system once and for all because it has not worked for our part of the country and it has been a source of problem for the rest of the country and we are determined to end it once and for all”.

There is nowhere in the world where children go through this kind of system which does not give life skills, does not prepare them for modern education and creating future problems for generations”.

MURIC stated that the world would have been a better place if the teachings of Prophet Muhammad were adhered to by the people

Tissaia:
No

helinues:


Then Prof Akintola should have condemned both the practising and the deportation

Tissaia:
the problem is the politicians they are profiting from the Alamjiri system

helinues:
.

Is Prof Akintola saying Northern Nigeria are not practising Islam ( Almajiri system) according to Prophet Muhammad's teaching?

helinues:


And when are the Northerners ( Those who are actually feeling the pinch) will wake up from their slumber?

Any awareness currently been made?

Tissaia:
yes the problem is deeper Nigeria can't directly inforce birth control. People giving birth to children they can't feed. If the government disallowed the Alamjiri system, the parents have to feed their children. Then they might have second thoughts.

helinues:


I think that should be one of the agenda of Northern youths towards 2023.. Both past and present Northern leaders never care about eradicating the system as they are benefiting a lot from it.

Tissaia:
Misleading headline. Now the I-pigs and I-goats
Will come and post nonsense.

MURIC stated that the world would have been a better place if the teachings of Prophet Muhammad were adhered to by the people. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, several States have been repatriating almajiris from their States.

They means repatriation of the Almajiris now is bad, because it will spread the disease. It's a teaching of rasurulla that during pandemic it's advise not one to travel away or travel in to the affected areas.

Before commenting read the article.