1 week ago
Four Quranic students, known as Almajiri, have died in Kano State after consuming contaminated food in a suspected case of food poisoning.
The affected pupils were studying at Malam Iliyasu Mai Tsangaya, located in Kadage Sharifai within the Ungogo Local Government Area of the Kano Metropolitan Council.
According to a statement sent to journalists in Kano by Alaramma Sani Musa Nuhu, the National Chairman of the Tsangaya Media Network, the students were rushed to the Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Despite these efforts, Nuhu reported that the children passed away at the hospital on the night of Sunday, August 16.
The exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy remain unclear, as the statement did not specify the type of food the students consumed or the specific substance suspected of causing the fatal poisoning.
Following the incident, the remains of the deceased students were buried after official approval was granted by the local District Head (Dagaci) and the area police officer. At the time of publication, police authorities had not yet issued an official statement regarding the circumstances of the deaths.
Why It Matters
The Almajiri system is a traditional Islamic education framework in northern Nigeria, where millions of young boys are sent to live and study under Quranic teachers. Because many of these informal schools lack institutional funding, the students often rely on community charity, menial labor, or begging for their daily sustenance, leaving them highly vulnerable to malnutrition and foodborne illnesses. This incident underscores long-standing concerns raised by human rights organizations and government officials regarding the welfare, safety, and regulation of Almajiri housing and living conditions.
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