Jigawa State can no longer contain the spread of the virus. The masses would revolt against the lockdown as a result of the government’s failure to provide enough palliatives to sustain the people. Just like in Kano, an invisible enemy would begin sweeping away innocent souls owing to government’s negligence in the fight against the dreaded coronavirus.


On April 22, Kano State government repatriated 607 almajiri back to Jigawa State, and four days later the Gombe State followed the lead by returning 69 of them.

Upon their arrival, the Jigawa State government decided to keep them in quarantine for 14 days, citing the possible spread of the coronavirus to other people in the State as a reason.

Well, coming from Kano State, now the epicentre of the pandemic in the northern part of Nigeria, the State government cannot do anything better than to isolate them until they are declared safe to return to their families.

The issue of contention remains the safety of other children who might not have the virus. The Kaduna State government has recently announced that 16 almajirai children that were repatriated from Kano State tested positive for COVID-19.

…I assure you when the inevitable almajiri time bomb explodes and the State has over 700 hundred confirmed cases as a result of their isolation without testing, the State would find no tears to shed when it is overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients.


Statistically, Jigawa, which receives the highest number of almajiri returnees from Kano, would have a higher number of infected children, hence endangering children that are not infected and also the later 69 children wh woere brought from Gombe State, which has less risk in comparison to Kano.

On top of that, a few days ago some almajirai managed to find a way to escape from the NYSC camp where they are being isolated, but fortunately they were recaptured and returned with the help of their ward heads. This still posses danger in the society as their status is still unknown, putting others they had contact with in at great risk.

Now, Jigawa State government, in its effort to prepare for the worst, is planning to have at least a 300-bed isolation centre only. This would seem a great number, especially that the state has only recorded nine cases and one death, but I assure you when the inevitable almajiri time bomb explodes and the State has over 700 hundred confirmed cases as a result of their isolation without testing, the State would find no tears to shed when it is overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients.

At this stage, Jigawa State can no longer contain the spread of the virus. The masses would revolt against the lockdown as a result of the government’s failure to provide enough palliatives to sustain the people. Just like in Kano, an invisible enemy would begin sweeping away innocent souls owing to government’s negligence in the fight against the dreaded coronavirus.

Abubakar Dambatta wrote from Kano.