A Facebook user, Maiwada Dammallam has shared the heartbreaking photo of two Almajiri children shivering in the cold as they sleep on the street. He wrote:
“And they are sleeping — a temporary reprieve from their living nightmare. May Allah make it easy for them.”
The term “Almajiri” is a Hausa word for pupil or student and emanates from the Arabic word ‘AlMuhajir’ which means a seeker of Islamic knowledge.
The present day Almajiri, who are victims of neglect and exploitation are seen everywhere singing and begging for food and money, being vulnerable to abuse, drugs, trafficking and various forms of exploitation.