Nigerian officials have called the increasing number of children living on the streets a “ticking time bomb,” and they are trying to defuse it. Sharia police, known as Hisbah, have been conducting late-night operations to round up homeless children and transport them to shelters for rehabilitation in Kano, the country’s largest northern city.
The crisis is growing as Nigeria faces soaring inflation and a rising divorce rate. It has resulted in nearly 2 million children being out of school and left to fend for themselves. Authorities said many children come from neighboring states, which exacerbates the problem.
Abba Sufi, the director-general of Hisbah, described children living on the streets as a “huge social and security threat.” Sufi cites their potential recruitment into criminal activity.
Kano’s governor formed a special committee in November 2024 to address what the government calls “street children.”
Hisbah, the region’s religious police force operating under Sharia law, has full authority to remove children from public areas such as street corners, motor parks and markets.
Boys are primarily targeted, as they are often found begging or attempting to sell goods to survive. Since the operation began, more than 5,000 children have been relocated to a rehabilitative camp.
The government is working to identify each child and provide counseling before they reenter society. Children can also attend school or join trade programs to gain skills and secure a better future.
This is not the first attempt to address the issue –– in 2017, a similar initiative was launched. However, it ultimately failed, with many children being returned to their families or back onto the streets after the rehabilitation camp was cleared.