The Nasarawa government has returned about 788 almajiri children in the state to their home states.
Abdullahi Sule, the state governor announced the repatriation on Sunday.
The governor said the children are being sent to their home states for proper care, and that the measure was recently agreed upon by northern governors.
“The plan to repatriate the almajiris is of good intention and not in bad motive,” he was quoted as saying.
A number of other states, mostly in the north, have also been sending almajiri children back to their home states.
Some of them have tested positive for COVID-19.
Usually, between the age of four and 15 years, the almajiri kids are often put in the care of Islamic teachers who instruct them on the basics of Quranic education.
Most of them end up begging for alms and food in their neighbourhoods as these teachers are often unable to meet their needs.
