The Kano State Government has expressed concern over the repeated deportation of citizens from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to Kano and other states in the North.
In a statement issued to newsmen in Kano by the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Disabled Persons, Hajiya Amina Sani-Abdullahi, 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.
The statement says the action of the FCT Administration contradicts the constitutional right of every Nigerian to reside and seek a livelihood in any part of the country, provided they do not pose a threat to public peace and safety.
“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,’ the statement adds.
The statement further points out 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, describing the treatment as degrading and unacceptable in a democratic society.
The statement therefore says that the state governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, would not tolerate the humiliation of its citizens, urging the FCT Administration to end unconstitutional deportations.
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