The Kano state government has vowed to look into the operations of youth rehabilitation centres, also known as ‘gidan mari’ in the state in order to check potential torture, maltreatment and abuse of inmates.
This was revealed by Hadiza Mustapha Namadi, spokesperson of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in a statement sent to Kano Focus on Wednesday.
The statement reported the permanent secretary of the ministry, Auwalu Umar Sanda as saying that there is need to check the operations of ‘mari’ rehab centres in the state, after the disturbing allegations of abuse that beset similar centres in Kaduna and Katsina states.
Mr Sanda, who made the comments while receiving leaders of the Network of ‘Yan Mari Rehabilitation Schools in the state, expressed “commitment to ensuring that the activities of mari rehabilitation centres in the state are fine tuned to operate within the dictate of the law.”
The permanent secretary “observed with dismay the unfolding allegation of mistreatment of deviant youth at an informal rehabilitation center popularly known as ‘gidan mari’ in a neighboring state stressing that the in action was dehumanizing and unbearable.”
“He expressed the ministry’s determination to work in concert with relevant stakeholders in the state to come up with a robust operational guidelines for registration and monitoring affairs of informal rehabilitation centers and care- givers outfit in the state,” the statement read.
Mr Sanda also “warned all operators of informal rehabilitation centers to desist from any anti-social act capable of maltreating the clients”.
“He also advised parents and guardians against taking the wards to any rehabilitation center with a bad record of human abuse.”
In his remarks, chairman of the Network of Yan Mari Rehabilitation Schools Mallam Ibrahim Alhajiji said they visited the ministry to update the permanent secretary on their activities and “to solicit with a continued synergy with the state government on overall operations of the rehabilitation schools in the state.”
Mr Alhajiji also assured the ministry of support to operate better rehab centres in the state.
Source: kanofocus.com
