Stakeholders in Sokoto State have raised alarm over the growing security and social risks linked to the Almajiri system, calling for urgent, coordinated action to reform the centuries-old practice and safeguard the state’s future.
At a high-level dialogue convened on Monday by the Sokoto Advancement Forum (SAF), participants including academics, security chiefs, and government officials—described the situation as “a ticking time bomb” that demands practical solutions.
Vice Chairman of SAF and former Vice-Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, said the meeting was organised to design actionable strategies for both immediate and long-term interventions.
“We are here to brainstorm practical and implementable solutions that address child begging, street roaming, vulnerability to crime, and the integration of these children into formal education and social welfare systems,” Shehu stated.
He lamented the alarming number of Almajiri children roaming the streets across the state, saying they are being deprived of childhood, education, and dignity.
“These children, who should be in schools and under family care, are exposed to hunger, disease, and abuse. The system, in its current form, is failing an entire generation,” he warned.
Citing research, Shehu disclosed that Sokoto has one of the highest concentrations of Almajiri children in Nigeria, estimated between 100,000 and 400,000, living in conditions of extreme vulnerability.
“Behind every figure is a child with dreams and potential — and a community paying the social and security price for neglect,” he added.
In his presentation, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmad Musa, said the Almajiri system has evolved into a serious national security concern.
“The system continues to expose children to radicalisation, political manipulation, and recruitment by extremist groups. Its failures are directly tied to the broader challenges of violent extremism and terrorism in the country,” he said.
Musa urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration with government agencies to improve access to education, healthcare, and economic empowerment for vulnerable families.
“If left unchecked, the Almajiri system will keep producing a generation that sees crime as survival,” the police chief warned.
Commissioners for Religious Affairs and for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Jabir Maihula and Prof. Ladan Ala, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to reforming the system through education and social welfare programmes.
They appealed to parents, religious scholars, and community leaders to support efforts to phase out child street begging and integrate Almajiri schools into the formal education system.
The Sokoto Advancement Forum (SAF), organisers of the event, is a civic platform of concerned citizens and professionals dedicated to advancing human development, education, and security in Sokoto State.
