Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday facilitated the release of 76 minors detained following the August #EndBadGovernance protests, handing them over to their families.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Shehu Sagagi, the governor oversaw the reunion at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, where the children had been housed and treated for various health issues during their detention.
Governor Yusuf expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for ordering the minors’ release and emphasized the importance of education in rehabilitating the children.
“I call on parents to support the government’s efforts to ensure these children are properly educated so they can contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the nation,” Yusuf said.
He urged parents to avoid using associations to solicit financial assistance, warning that the state government would not tolerate such actions.
The governor assured parents that the state Ministry of Education would provide the necessary support to help the children resume their studies.
The state Commissioner for Education, Haruna Doguwa, revealed specific measures to aid the reintegration of the minors. “One of the protesters, a final-year undergraduate, will receive support to complete his studies, while another, holding a National Certificate in Education, will be employed.
For the remaining 50 minors, we have provided campus shoes and two sets of uniforms to enable them to complete their secondary education,” Doguwa said.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Yusuf, highlighted the medical care provided to the children during their stay at the hospital. “All 76 minors underwent thorough medical evaluation and treatment before their reunion with their families,” he stated.
Parents who spoke at the event expressed gratitude to the state government for its intervention and to all those who contributed to securing the children’s release.
Adding to the gesture, former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, donated ₦50,000 to each child to support their education.
The release and subsequent reintegration efforts demonstrate a commitment by both federal and state authorities to prioritize the welfare and future of affected minors.