Kano Residents Outraged Over Sexual Harassment of Young Girls During School Candy Celebrations
- Parents and residents in Kano State have spoken out on the disturbing trend of sexual exploitation in the state by teenage boys
- Parents give a detailed account of how their teenage daughters were harassed after the completion of the senior secondary certificate examination
- Residents sends powerful message to the Kano State Ministry of Education and school administrators as Islamic scholars kicks against incident
Kano, Kano State - Residents of Kano State have expressed dismay over how some secondary school graduates recently celebrate their completion of examinations, describing certain behaviours as "indecent” and contrary to the state’s cultural and religious values.
Source: Getty Images
Findings by Legit.ng show that the tradition of students marking each other’s shirts with pens has been a long-standing practice across Nigeria.
Many now accuse some male students of exploiting the ritual to molest female colleagues.
This, however, has drawn criticism, with many parents and residents calling for stricter measures to curb what they see as inappropriate conduct.
Parents Allege Sexual Harassment in Disguise
Hajiya Zainab Mohammed, a mother, narrated how her daughter, Fatima, returned home in tears after a male student deliberately used a marker to sign on her chest and touched her inappropriately.
“One of my daughters, Fatima, was traumatised because of such an incident. She is an introvert and hardly socialised. These boys are taking advantage of this so-called celebration to harass girls.”
“A group of boys followed her on their graduation celebration, and deliberately signed on her chest. She has been crying throughout the day, and she still feels hurt about it. I had to calm her down,” she explained.
Malam Yusuf Sadik Wudil, another concerned parent, said he intervened when he saw a group of boys crowding around female students, with some deliberately targeting sensitive body parts.
“I was passing by, but had to stop when I saw some boys pretending to sign a girl’s shirt, but brushing her chest. When I confronted them, they laughed it off.”
“I think as parents and teachers, we need to do more about this. We have to watch closely and take measures because this is not just an act of indecency, but a criminal offence when you look at it," he stated.
Islamic scholar sends powerful words to parents, authority
Islamic scholars have also called for immediate measures to curb the trend, warning that such behaviour violates both cultural norms and Islamic teachings.
Sheikh Dalhatu Abdullahi, a cleric, described the acts as un-Islamic and disgraceful.
“Truly, Islam teaches respect and modesty. Any form of harassment, especially under the pretence of celebration, is sinful and punishable. Parents must monitor their children, and the authorities must enforce discipline," he demanded.
While some students dismissed the concerns as exaggerated, others, however, acknowledged that harassment does occur.
Abdullahi Musa, a recent graduate, argued that not everyone is doing bad things.
“Most of us just write names for fun. But yes, some guys misbehave, and they give the rest of us a bad name. But in our school, we didn’t do that.”
On the contrary, Amina Sani, a female student who graduated recently, confirmed the harassment claims.
“It is true, some of these boys intentionally go too far. They think it’s a joke, but it’s humiliating.”
“They tried to force themselves on us, even when we cried and told them we didn’t want it, some even followed us, and we had to run for our lives. I think authorities should punish those involved," she said.
Residents urge the Kano State Ministry of Education and school administrators to enforce stricter rules during graduation celebrations, including banning the signing of uniforms if necessary.
Amina Aliyu, a teacher in one of the public schools, also condemned the trend, stating that such behaviour tarnishes the reputation of students and Kano state.
“We teach them discipline and modesty, but some of them engage in acts that are completely opposite. Parents and teachers must monitor these children and guide them properly.”
“This is not our culture, and it goes against our Islamic teachings. How can a boy be writing on a girl’s chest in public? The government and school authorities should step in, ban and punish whoever engages in that,” she advised.
Source: Getty Images
Scholar kicks against non-consensual filming of women
Legit.ng previously reported that a Kano State-based Islamic scholar, Dr. Ibrahim Siraj Adhama, has strongly denounced the recent trend of filming Muslim women without their consent for prank videos, labelling the act as "haram", meaning it is forbidden according to Islamic doctrines.
Legit.ng learned that his remarks come amid growing outrage among women in Kano over the violation of their privacy and dignity through such videos.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Usman Bello Balarabe (Kano Correspondent) Kano's regional correspondent, Usman Bello Balarabe is a journalist, media strategist, and university lecturer in the state. He worked as an investigative journalist with Daily Trust Newspaper Nigeria. His career is passionately geared towards stimulating social justice, exposing corruption, ensuring good governance and accountability. In his over 7 years of journalism practice, he has authored investigations and numerous special and beat reports at the intersection of environment, health, education, agriculture, public spending, security, and politics.
Abdul-Hafeez Fadehan (Editorial Assistant) Abdul-Hafeez Fadehan is a Legit.ng journalist with over a year of experience writing for Punch Newspaper. He received his BSc in Criminology and Security Studies from FUOYE. His background in media communications and criminology, with practical experience in research, interviewing, and digital media, allows him to craft compelling narratives that drive positive change. Fadehan is an Editorial Assistant on Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng. He is committed to ethical journalism, leveraging his skills to create a meaningful impact. Reach him at abdul-hafeez.fadehan@corp.legit.ng or 070622666732.
