Exploited and Ignorant: The Tragic Use of Almajiri Minors As Political Pawns

Social media recently erupted with reports of minors facing court charges following violent ‘end bad governance’ protests across Northern Nigerian states like Kano and Kaduna, where incidents of looting, property destruction, and significant damage to infrastructure reached alarming levels. What has particularly raised concern, however, was the display of foreign flags—a symbol of protest that some have interpreted as a call for regime change. To fully understand how these young individuals have become entangled in such politically charged events, it’s essential to explore the Almajiri system in Northern Nigeria—a system historically aimed at religious education but now marred by exploitation.

Rooted in the Arabic word “Al-Muhajeer,” meaning “the one who travels to seek knowledge,” the Almajiri system was once a respected educational structure in Northern Nigeria, offering boys the opportunity to travel and receive Islamic teachings under a Mallam, or Islamic scholar. However, over time, this noble system has degraded, devolving into a cycle of neglect and manipulation, often facilitated by the very society that once valued it.

Initially, the Almajiri framework aimed to instill young boys with a comprehensive religious education. Today, it is frequently used as a way for impoverished families to “declutter” their households. For instance, a struggling farmer with a large family and limited space often faces difficult choices. In his small home, he may decide to send his young sons away as Almajiris, Soon after arrival, the boys begin their life of “bara” (begging), with little time or energy left for religious study. After all, his daughters may soon marry and move out. So, after a successful harvest, all he thinks about is marrying another wife, and the cycle continues.

Unfortunately, the Almajiri system has become a reservoir of young, disenfranchised boys who are easily manipulated by the political elite. Rather than fulfilling its educational intent, this framework has become a source of political gain, with children registered as adults to serve as potential voters. The recent case of minors who could reportedly be charged with treason after the protests in Northern states highlights this. Through falsification of documents, some political elites capitalize on these children’s lack of official identification, enrolling them as eligible voters. In this way, these boys are stripped of their agency, reduced to mere pawns in a political game. This fraudulent manipulation, if left unaddressed, continues a cycle that deprives these young individuals of any legitimate opportunity for education or self-improvement.

The cycle of poverty and lack of educational opportunity in Northern Nigeria fuels the Almajiri system’s persistence. Northern Nigeria has some of the highest poverty rates in the country, with data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing that poverty levels in states like Sokoto and Zamfara exceed 80%. These economic hardships create difficult decisions for many families, who, faced with few resources, often resort to sending their sons into the Almajiri system as a way of managing household expenses.

Moreover, Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, with UNICEF estimating that approximately 10 million Nigerian children are not attending school, and a significant proportion are Almajiri boys in the North. Rather than receiving a formal education, these children are caught in a system that fails to prepare them for productive futures, further entrenching cycles of poverty and dependence.

Beyond political manipulation, Almajiri boys face many dangers, from physical sexual and emotional abuse to becoming potential targets for human trafficking or recruitment by criminal groups. Isolated from their families and society, they are susceptible to exploitation, with little recourse for help. The day-to-day hardships of an Almajiri boy rarely lead to a return to formal education; instead, many transition to menial jobs such as mai bola (local trash collectors), mai ruwa (water carriers), mobile dress menders, cobblers, or truck drivers. The cycle of poverty, therefore, continues with little hope for escape. I was having a conversation with one ‘mai bola’ the other day, he spoke of his annual return home for the planting season, where he expands his family by welcoming new children with joy, this guy has 3 wives and 8 children, and was boasting that he’ll add another very soon.

Northern Nigeria faces a stark disparity between a wealthy upper class and a severely impoverished lower class. Despite having the longest tenure in leadership positions and access to vast resources, the elite’s priorities often fall on symbolic actions, such as funding large-scale weddings for hundreds of couples. Such measures, however, fail to address the systemic issues of poverty and lack of access to quality education.

The challenge of introducing educational and family planning programs to Northern communities is further complicated by deep-rooted cultural beliefs. In one experience, during an NGO-led sensitization campaign at an IDP camp in Durumi 2, men disrupted the session, accusing  we the organizers of promoting family planning, which they perceived as a threat to their traditional values. This cultural resistance underlines the difficulty of implementing meaningful reforms and illustrates the entrenched mindset that sustains the Almajiri system as it stands today.

Any meaningful reform of the Almajiri system requires more than surface-level policy changes. It demands a holistic approach that addresses both education and economic opportunity. Poverty alleviation measures, expanded access to education, and robust family welfare systems are necessary steps in ensuring families no longer feel pressured to send their children away. Addressing this issue could mitigate the underlying factors that sustain cycles of poverty and exploitation.

Away from the sensationalism and courtroom theatrics lies a harsher reality that calls for urgent attention. If it’s proven that any of the accused orchestrated these acts of violence and the young people involved are found guilty, then, unfortunately, the law must take its course. This incident, tragic as it may be, should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria and the world to see the acute disparities and the severe socio-economic challenges faced in Northern Nigeria. It is not enough to address symptoms—true reform must dig deep to uproot the social, political, and economic issues that entrench systems like the Almajiri. Only with transparent efforts and a commitment to lasting change can the Almajiri system fulfill its original mission: to educate and uplift, not abandon or exploit.