Kano Govt Slams Wike, Decries Deportation Of Northerners From FCT
The Kano State government has raised concerns over the repeated deportation of citizens from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to Kano and other states in the North.
The concern was raised in a statement on Thursday by the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Disabled Persons, Amina Sani-Abdullahi.
She said the state government observed that within the last four weeks, several Nigerian citizens, including indigenes of Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kaduna, were deported from the FCT to Kano.
According to her, the action of the FCT Administration contradicts the constitutional right of every Nigerian to reside and seek livelihood in any part of the country, provided they do not pose a threat to public peace and safety.
She said, “The FCT is not the property of a single state or region; it is the common heritage of all Nigerians and, as such, a home for all. If certain individuals are found engaging in activities that you consider undesirable, the humane and constitutional approach would be to design empowerment programmes. Provide grants, or create opportunities for rehabilitation and meaningful economic engagement, not forceful deportation.
“In Kano, we host people from all over Nigeria, including Rivers State and other regions, and they live, work, and contribute to our economy without discrimination. This is the spirit of national brotherhood that strengthens our unity.’’
The commissioner added that reports from some of the deportees indicated they were allegedly held in custody for more than 10 days under harsh conditions and fed once daily.
She described the treatment as degrading and unacceptable in a democratic society.
Ms Sani-Abdullahi said the state government, under Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf, would not tolerate the humiliation of its citizens, urging the FCT Administration to end unconstitutional deportations.
“We urge the FCT Administration to reconsider its approach and adopt more humane, lawful, and constructive measures in handling such matters going forward,” she said.
(NAN)
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
