NGO Warns Over 2 Million Homeless Children in Kano Risk Becoming Terrorists Amid Rising Insecurity
Emmanuel Femi Adedayo 
A non-governmental organization has raised a grave alarm over the plight of more than two million homeless children sleeping rough on the streets of Kano, warning that without immediate and decisive intervention, many risk being drawn into terrorism amid the country’s escalating security challenges.
The Global Improvement of Less Privileged Persons Initiative (GIOPPINI), which says it conducted thorough research and a scientific survey to arrive at the figure, described the situation as extremely alarming.
The children, often referred to as “street urchins,” face daily exposure to health hazards, unhygienic conditions, hunger, and various forms of exploitation and danger.
GIOPPINI Executive Director Mohammed Ali Mashi stated that these children are highly vulnerable due to their circumstances.
Many have migrated to Kano from neighboring states or rural areas within the state, driven by poverty, under the pretext of pursuing Quranic education.
However, he explained, the traditional system has failed them, leaving them to abandon studies in search of food and basic survival, sleeping in unsafe public spaces.
The NGO identified several prominent hotspots where these children congregate and sleep at night, including Race Course, Central Hotel and Railway Station areas, Nassarawa Hospital Road, Dangi Bridge, Zoo Road, Ado Bayero Bridge (known locally as Gadar Lado), New Road in Sabon Gari, Mariri, and Kofar Ruwa Parks.
Mashi emphasized the broader security implications, warning that prolonged exposure to street life, lack of care, education, and protection creates fertile ground for radicalization.
He cautioned that without urgent action, a significant number of these vulnerable children could turn to terrorists, further fueling insecurity across the region and the nation.
GIOPPINI called on federal and state authorities to implement comprehensive measures without delay.
Proposed interventions include the establishment of emergency shelters, programs for reintegrating the children into formal or vocational education, family tracing and reunification support where possible, and broader efforts to address root causes such as poverty and the breakdown of traditional educational structures.
The NGO stressed that the scale of the crisis demands coordinated government response, describing it as both a humanitarian emergency and a looming threat to national stability.
Public reactions on social media have ranged from shock and calls for accountability to skepticism about the exact figure cited, with some users questioning the methodology while others highlighted the long-standing nature of street child vulnerability in northern Nigeria.
The warning comes against the backdrop of ongoing insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, where terrorist groups have historically exploited marginalized and disenfranchised youth.
Authorities have not yet issued an official response to GIOPPINI’s specific claims and figure as of this report.
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