North-eastern states move to tackle challenges in Juvenile justice system – Survey
North-eastern states move to tackle challenges in Juvenile justice system – Survey
Indications emerged that the juvenile justice system in the north-eastern states is gradually being restored to ensure the protection and the dignity of children’s human rights while in remands.
A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe revealed that measures have been put in place by the states to upgrade the standard of remands and ensure the juveniles’ well-being.
The survey was on the backdrop of outcry over the inability of the juvenile justice system in the country to comply with the international legal obligations regarding children’s fundamental rights in remand.
However, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child (UNCRC) 1989 and the declaration of Human Rights 1948 proclaims “childhood is entitled to special care and assistance.”
In line with this ideal, the UNCRC insisted on the need to establish a special child centre where such children will be remanded, as distinct from a punitive system in which the child’s interests are paramount and the inherent dignity of the child is preserved.
Mr Zubairu Ayuba, a psychologist with the correctional centre in Adamawa, said early intervention was crucial for reforming the children.
“Most of these children are victims of neglect, peer influence, or abuse.
“At the centre, we provide counselling to rebuild their self-esteem and guide them towards positive behaviour.
“Without psychologicial support, it would be difficult for them to reintegrate into society,” he said.
Mrs Zara Musa, a sociologist at Yobe State University, Damaturu, however, argued that the remands had been neglected for too long in the country.
Musa insisted that a remand home was supposed to be a decent home for minors, under the age of 18, who had committed offences.
“They are kept by the government so as to rehabilitate, educate and counsel, also be provided with recreational facilities so as to be integrated in the society as good citizens.
“Unfortunately, this is not happening. Remand homes in most states of Nigeria including Yobe are abandoned, leading to minors being detained in adult correctional centres.
“There are only three juvenile institutions in the country that are up to standard and they are in Kaduna, Illorin and Abeokuta,” she said.
Musa recommended urgent policy formulation to rehabilitate remand homes, rid them of corruption and ensure their regular inspection to comply with international standards.
For Zara Gridam, a Senior Protection Manager at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an International NGO in Borno, said they have not worked directly with Juvenile homes or remand.
“We work more with the adults in the Correctional Facilities. However we work with Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and an International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to ensure justice for all including children,” she said.
A social worker with the ministry of Women Affairs in Yobe, Mohammed Kuchichi, said measuring the impact of only one remand home in a state was challenging.
“If there were remand homes in at least four towns other than Potiskum, measuring the impact would have been possible.
“But as things are now, one remand home is inadequate for the whole of Yobe,” he said.
Kuchichi said that tracking the progress of inmates after reintegration was necessary for policy formulation in changing the attitudes of minors who engaged in crime.
He also recommended that minors freed from insurgents be kept at remand home for rehabilitation, adding that there is a need to build the capacities of staff of remand homes for effective service delivery.
Mrs Rebecca Alli, another social welfare officer attached to the home in Adamawa, said children at the centre were receiving both academic lessons and vocational skills.
“We engage volunteer teachers and link them with nearby schools for continuity of learning, and at the same time, they are introduced to skills that can help them become productive in the future,” she said.
Mrs Jamila Babuba, Chairperson of FIDA, Adamawa said that remand homes in Nigeria often face challenges of neglect, underfunding and poor follow-up after release.
“For such interventions to succeed, government must ensure strong after-care programmes, community sensitisation, and continuous monitoring of the children when they return home.
“Otherwise, the cycle of delinquency may continue,” she said.
Babuba stressed the need for collaboration between government agencies, civil society and religious leaders to reduce stigma and support reintegration.
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Malam Saidu Abubakar, father of a 13-year-old currently at the facility, said although he was initially worried about his son being taken away, he was however relieved that the child was learning discipline and education.
“At first, I thought he would be stigmatised, because he was caught stealing but seeing the kind of care and activities they are providing, I am hopeful he will come out better,” he said.
A parent, Malam Adamu Garba in Yobe, said one remand home serving the entire state was grossly inadequate, saying there was a need for government to establish more remand homes in the state.
“Remand homes are important in protecting juveniles from hardened criminals in prisons and helping them to develop skills and positive attitudes.
“Well equipped remand homes can address Issues of substance abuse, mental health and family conflicts, among juveniles,” he said.
Mrs Neido Kufulto, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Adamawa, said the facility, which had remained redundant for some years, was revived in 2025 and currently housing children between the age of six and 14.
“Presently, we have a functional government remand home here in the state capital, as we speak, we already have juveniles in the centre and experts in charge of them.
“In the past, the place was empty and almost abandoned, but this year, the state government renovated it and brought in children from other regional offices.
“We are now trying to make the centre work fully by providing recreational facilities, educational services, and skill acquisition programmes.
“They are still children, and we would not want to jeopardise their future, our goal is to rehabilitate them, reintegrate them into society without stigma, and ensure they continue their education,” she said.
According to the commissioner, the state is setting up indoor and outdoor sporting activities as well as vocational training in tailoring, carpentry, and ICT to help the juveniles acquire lifelong skills.
“This is the first set of juveniles we are having since the renovation, and none of them have been released yet,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Potiskum remand home, was the only functional remand home currently existing in Yobe.
The centre was currently housing seven juveniles, who appeared to be in good condition as they receive meals daily and enjoy medical services on demand.
Alhaji Barma Shetima, the Yobe Commissioner for Sports, Social and Community Development, said his ministry had been spending over N17 million annually for the upkeep of the juveniles and the facility.
Barma, however, said no vocational skills training for them at the moment as they hardly stay at the facility for long.
“They come and go. Most of them end up being released by the same court judges, who remanded them,” the commissioner said.
Mr Dauda Iliya, the Spokesman to Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, said the state government was doing everything possible to protect the interests of the children while in remand, saying they were now shifting away from conventional court processes in handling juvenile justice.
“The state is currently in discussions to focuse more on the creation of family courts and the rehabilitation of our children in a special centre,” Iliya said.
According to him, the state is prioritising alternative dispute resolution, protection, and family support to every child in Borno whether in custody or not.
(NAN)
