Nigeria: Second Islamic ‘Torture School’ Discovered

For the second time in less than three weeks, an ‘Al Majiri’ has been discovered by authorities in Daura, northern Nigeria.

A 78-year-old cleric was arrested at the scene on suspicion of torture and abuse of the students in his care, although it is thought that other teachers managed to escape.

The school housed around 300 young boys and men between the ages of 7 ad 40.  The abuse the boys suffered grew so bad they revolted against their teachers, managing to escape and alert the authorities.

Police then found a further 67 still “shackled with chains” that had not managed to get away.

This new finding will only add to the already growing calls for the government to take stronger action against the controversial Islamic school system mainly in the majority north of Nigeria.

President Buhari, a Muslim himself, has pledged he will eventually close down the schools, although he’s so far failed to give any indication to a timeline.

Police on Monday urged parents not to take their children to “illegal, unauthorised or unapproved remand/rehabilitation centres”.