The Kano state governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has instituted a Commission of Inquiry that would look into the rights of the rescued nine Kano children allegedly kidnapped in Kano and later found in Anambra State.
The Commission which will be inaugurated on Thursday 31st October 2019 will have as its chairman, Retired Justice Wada Umar Rano, while other members of the panel will be released soon.
Parts of the Terms of Reference given to the Commission according to the statement released by the Kano State Government on Friday 25th October 2029, include:
“To conduct an inquiry into cases of missing persons in Kano State from the year 2010 to date and to procure all such evidence, written or oral, and to examine all such persons as witnesses as the commissioners may think it necessary or desirable to procure or examine.”
Terms of Reference paved way for the Commission:
“To summon any person in Nigeria to attend any meeting of the commissioners to give evidence or produce any document or other things in his possession and to require the evidence (whether written or oral) of any witness to be made on oath or declaration, such oath or declaration.”
Other Terms include issues like “To admit or exclude the public or any member of the public or press from any hearing of the commission, to prepare comprehensive data of missing persons in Kano State within the period and circumstances in which they disappeared, to find out both immediate and remote causes of cases of missing persons and to prepare and submit a written report including findings and recommendations to the Government of Kano State.”
It could be recalled that recently, the Nigerian Police Force, Kano State Command, under the able leadership of CP Ahmed Iliyasu, uncovered cases of missing children in Kano State.
A total of 9 persons (aged between 2 – 10 years) were kidnapped, out of which, 8 were sold in faraway Anambra State. Some of the victims stayed as captives for over five years in Anambra State, losing their identities.
Section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, [CAP. 29], Laws of Kano State, 1990, and of all powers enables the governor to institute this and similar Commissions of Inquiry.
“It is on this premise that the governor said as “...the Governor of Kano State, do hereby notify the general public of the appointment of the persons named in the schedule hereto as commissioners with authority to hold a Commission of Inquiry into cases of missing persons in Kano State, from the year 2010 to 2019 with effect from 30th October, 2019 to 30th November, 2019.”
As governor Ganduje expressed his delight that the Nine victims were traced and handed over to their respective families, it is worth mentioning to note that, his administration “…takes this callous and heinous crime as a serious security challenge, that shall not be tolerated to continue and no stone shall be left unturned.”
“The Commission is set to hear from the victims or their relatives, collect evidence both written and oral, visits sites (as the case may be), find both immediate and remote causes and make recommendations to the Government for proper action, in order to eradicate such wicked act” the Kano State Government stated.