Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has offered a fully furnished home and a comprehensive educational scholarship to Bashir Gaji, a young boy seen being assaulted in a viral video that drew nationwide outrage.
The governor made this announcement on Sunday while receiving the boy at the Government House in Maiduguri.
The video that circulated widely showed one Bukar Modu severely beating Gaji, an internally displaced person (IDP) in Monguno whose father was reportedly killed by Boko Haram.
Acting on the governor’s order, security agents tracked down and arrested Bukar Modu on Saturday night at Umarari in Maiduguri.
Speaking on the incident, Zulum condemned the abuse and stressed that such acts are unacceptable.
“This heinous act is an affront on our values and a betrayal of our duty to protect our children, students and minors who are under our guardianship. We cannot tolerate such actions perpetually repeating itself.”
“I am directing the relevant authorities to move swiftly and ensure that this individual faces the full extent of the law. Our children deserve a safe environment to grow and become meaningful members of society,” he said.
Governor Zulum emphasized his administration’s commitment to child protection and tasked the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to intensify community education.
He directed them to “devise modalities for increased community awareness programmes to educate families and local traditional teachers and guardians on the proper means of enforcing discipline on children.”
