Northern leaders at the weekend made commitments to work tirelessly to end the menace of child abduction and trafficking in a bid to protect children’s rights and development.
At the maiden Stakeholders’ Meeting organised by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Kano Chapter, northern leaders also vowed to implement wide programmes aimed at eliminating drug abuse, banditry and kidnapping.
Speaking at the meeting, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, said the Kano Emirate Council would no longer condone the heinous crime of theft of minors, abducted and sold in some southern parts of the country.
He said the council would also vowed to work relentlessly with the remaining 18 states in the north to eliminate the menace of drug abuse, and the twin evils of banditry and kidnapping.
The Emir, who spoke through Sarkin Shanu, Alhaji Shehu Muhammad, reaffirmed the unwavering determination of the council to halt trafficking, abduction, buying and selling of northern children.
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He warned that the hospitality and generosity of the people of Kano State to accommodate various ethnic groups and communities, living with them peacefully for centuries must not be abused.
He said the Kano Emirate would collaborate with security agencies and other stakeholders to end criminal activities noting that the Emirate has the most viable and reliable communication system that promptly reaches ward, village and district heads within the shortest span of time, placing the state at an advantage to fight the ugly trend.
Ado Bayero appealed to governments to deploy the necessary machinery to prevent child trafficking; spread awareness among parents, and provide the environment where minors could enjoy age child programmes thereby encouraging them to focus on education.
In his contribution, another member of Kano Emirate Council, Dan Malikin Kano, Ambassador Ahmad Umar expressed disappointment that some evil-minded people were abducting and selling northern minors and getting them sold in the south.
He emphasised that the tenacity of leaders which made Kano the home of other ethnic groups and nationalities must not be misconstrued as an avenue to inflict harm on the community.
Umar, who reviewed the steady rise in drug addiction among youth and its resultant effects, warned that this trend is not acceptable to the Emirate Council.
Convener and Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Dr Farouk Umar called on traditional institutions to significantly mobilise their subjects to end child theft, drug abuse and all social vices.
He urged the Nigeria Police Force to redouble their efforts through intensified search and busting of criminal gangs.
The ACF leader advised the judiciary to fear God, noting that on several occasions suspects were charged to court but later released and allowed to move freely.
He appealed to legislators to make robust legislation against the devilish act of kidnapping and abducting people.
He announced plans by Kano ACF to convene a security and economic summit in the weeks ahead in conjunction with other states.
Umar commended the Nassarawa Governor for putting in place a similar economic and security summit in Lafia.
Eze Ndigbo Kano, Boniface Igbekwe, condemned the heinous act of child theft, and called on the authorities to bring all perpetrators to book.
Represented by Chief Nwaimo Efanyi, the Eze said the community received news of the kidnapped children with shock and disbelief.
Igbekwe explained that the Igbos had dissociated themselves from the suspects and any form of heinous acts committed in their name, adding that Igbos are committed to living peacefully with one another, and the host community.
He commended the police for dismantling the syndicate and rescuing the victims, urging the force not to relent until all kidnapped children were rescued.
In a statement, Publicity Secretary, ACF Kano, Mallam Bello Galadanchi, listed other leaders of ethnic communities resident in Kano who attended the meeting to include the Sarki Idoma, Abubakar Ibochi and Sarki Edo, Fred Akhigbe while the Oba of Yoruba, Kano, Alhaji Murtala Otisese was represented by the Yoruba Leader, Yunus Olanrewaju.
