By Usman Usman Garba and Shafi’u Yahaya
Kano State Government, through the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, has handed over the remaining seven children from the Nasarawa Children’s Home to Professor Solomon Musa Tarfa, in compliance with a court order.
The court had directed the Ministry of Women Affairs to release a total of 16 children who had been kept at the Nasarawa Children’s Home for protective custody.
In line with this directive, eight children were earlier handed over to Du Merci Children’s Home on August 13, 2025, while the remaining seven have now been released.
One of the children, however, was reported dead.
The children were initially taken into custody by the Ministry of Women Affairs following a joint operation by the police and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
They were rescued from a shelter suspected to be operating illegally, reportedly affiliated with Du Merci Orphanage in Kano.
The Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, SAN, made this known during the official handover ceremony, which was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Women Affairs, journalists, and members of the Kano State Fostering Committee.
Maude emphasized that the Kano State justice system remains committed to fairness and adherence to the rule of law under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
He added that the state government had provided continuous care for the children, including feeding, clothing, healthcare, education, and psychosocial support, regardless of their background.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Amina Abdullahi, reaffirmed the ministry’s mandate to safeguard the welfare of children in the state.
She disclosed that the ministry would soon commence a monitoring exercise to ensure that all private orphanages comply with government regulations and standards.
“This administration under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will not allow any individual or organization to operate orphanages without meeting the required standards in the best interest of the child,” she stated.
She also commended the judiciary for delivering a judgment in the best interest of the children, and appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Justice, NAPTIP, and the police.
She assured that the ministry would continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure that perpetrators of child abuse are apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the Kano State Child Protection Law.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Kano State Fostering Committee, Kabiru Zubairu, provided background information on the case.
He revealed that between December 25, 2019, and January 1, 2020, a total of 27 children were rescued and transferred to the Kano State Children’s Home under the Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and People with Special Needs.
According to him, the children were rescued by the Kano State Police Command and NAPTIP from illegal orphanage operations located at No. 15 Iroko, Noman’s Land, Kano, and No. 26 Favor Close, High Cost, Kaduna State.
He further stated that the children had remained under government care for approximately six to seven years, during which 20 of them had been formally released through legal and administrative processes.
He noted that on April 18, 2020, eight individuals, mostly adults or near-adults, were handed over to the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kano State Chapter.
Additionally, he explained that on August 13, 2025, eight children: Deborah, Divine, Peace, Esther, Moses, Elizabeth, Destiny, and Paul were released to Barrister Gideon Uzu on behalf of Du Merci Children’s Home.
Zubairu also confirmed the death of one of the children, identified as David, who passed away on January 28, 2024.
His remains are currently at the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, while a mandatory autopsy is yet to be conducted at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
