By Usman Usman Garba
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has officially handed over 76 Kano children, who were acquitted of treasonable felony by the Federal High Court in Abuja, to their parents.
Two of the children were promised automatic jobs with the state government, while the others were reinstated to their schools.
The children had been arrested by the police during the August 1st #EndBadGovernance protest in Kano. They endured severe hardship and starvation during their three-month detention in police custody in Abuja.
Following their release and pardon by President Bola Tinubu, Governor Yusuf swiftly brought the teenagers back to Kano and admitted them to Muhammadu Buhari Specialists Hospital for medical rehabilitation.
During a ceremony on Thursday, where the children were returned to their parents, Governor Yusuf commended President Tinubu’s pardon, which led to their discharge by the court.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Alh. Shehu Wada Sagagi, the Governor expressed regret over the destruction of properties worth billions of naira during the protest. He reiterated that his administration had neither supported nor authorized any group to engage in such destruction.
Governor Yusuf urged the teenagers to become responsible citizens and proud ambassadors of Kano, focusing on their education and future endeavors.
He also called on the parents to remain vigilant in their roles, ensuring the welfare of their children, and emphasized that the government would not tolerate any actions that could lead to unrest in the state.
Earlier, the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa, announced that each of the 76 children would receive a N50,000 cash support from the Bafarawa Foundation. He also stated that the children would be immediately reinstated to school, as directed.
Doguwa explained that the job offers would be extended to one child, a university undergraduate, once they graduate, and the other, who has completed their NCE program, would have their employment formalized soon.
A representative of the parents, Nura Ahmad Muhammed, expressed gratitude to the state government for intervening on behalf of their children, as well as to private organizations and individuals who supported them during and after the release of the children.
