Following the arrival of Governor Abba Yusuf from Abuja along with 63 of the pardoned minors arrested and detained over the August #EndBadGovernance protests, on Tuesday night in Kano, the state government said they will be rehabilitated over the next five days.
The pardoned protesters, largely minors, were taken straight to the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital in Kano metropolis, where they will undergo rehabilitation.
The brand new hospital, having the largest cancer center in West Africa, is where medical personnel will cater for the freed minors for five days before they would be handed over to their parents.
This was disclosed by Governor Yusuf at a special reception for the minors at the hospital on Tuesday night.
“We have decided that on your return to Kano, we will not just let you go home yet or hand you over to your parents without bringing you to this hospital for rehabilitation.
“We have placed all the necessary facilities required and will keep you in this hospital to be catered for in the next five days.
“It is clear that a lot of you are traumatised and need to be rehabilitated. We are going to treat you for the next five days. Professional health workers will look after you and treat you. We want you to come back to normal by returning to your normal selves,” the governor stated.
Governor Yusuf further explained that he was going to take over the sponsorship of their education through the Ministry of Education where the Commissioner and his team will visit the hospital to document their current education levels.
For those who are not in school, they will be assisted with the required skills and be given start-up kits to engage in any trade of their choice.
He, thefore, advised the boys to never engage in any kind of violence and ensure that they become ambassadors that will direct other young persons to avoid such destructive behaviour.
While congratulating them for their freedom, he called on them to cooperate with the officials that will look after them in the next five days before they will be handed over to their parents, assuring them that he will only hand them over when he was sure they are all fine.
After having a dinner with them, the governor also gave them some dresses, soaps and other needs they will be using for the next five days, promising that tailors will be there the next day to take their measurements and sew new dresses for them.