By Mike Odeh James, Kano
In a significant development, eight of the 16 children forcibly taken from Du Merci Orphanage in Kano State in 2019 have been released after nearly six years in government custody. The children, seized during a Christmas Day raid in 2019, were among 27 removed from the Christian-run orphanage in Nomansland, Kano, in what many have described as a religiously motivated attack.
The raid, executed by armed security operatives alongside Kano State officials, saw the arrest of Du Merci’s founders, Professor Solomon Tarfa and Dr. Mercy Tarfa, despite the orphanage operating legally for decades.
We are grateful that some of the children have now been released
Authorities initially accused the facility of running illegally, transferring the children to government-run homes. However, courts later cleared Prof. Tarfa of all charges, affirming Du Merci’s legality.
International human rights lawyer Barrister Emmanuel Ogebe, speaking to TruthNigeria, revealed the children endured severe neglect in state care. They were given Muslim names, pressured to recite Islamic prayers, attend mosque services, and some suffered untreated illnesses and a horrific fire incident.
On Wednesday, seven of the eight freed children—Debora, Divine, Peace, Esther, Moses, Paul, Elizabeth, and Destiny—were photographed with Barrister Gideon Uzu, their lawyer, and Pharm. Marcus Tarfa, a former Du Merci orphan and now a father of three.
However, we remain deeply concerned about the welfare and safety of those still held, and we will continue to advocate for their rights
Du Merci representatives expressed gratitude for the release but raised concerns about the eight children still in custody. “We are grateful that some of the children have now been released,” they said. “However, we remain deeply concerned about the welfare and safety of those still held, and we will continue to advocate for their rights.”
The Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disabled confirmed the release of eight children from Nassarawa Children’s Home to Barrister Uzu, representing Du Merci. However, eight others remain in state custody, with five pending a court decision and three—Martha, Mercy, and Emmanuel—choosing to stay until legal proceedings conclude.
While we welcome the release of half of the ‘Du Merci 16’ five months after the court-ordered return deadline, Kano’s continued detention of eight children is a violation
Barrister Ogebe criticized the state’s actions, stating, “While we welcome the release of half of the ‘Du Merci 16’ five months after the court-ordered return deadline, Kano’s continued detention of eight children is a violation. The claim of pending litigation is a pretext, as the state itself drafted the consent judgment setting a March release date, only to renege in bad faith and contempt of court.”
The release comes amid a broader child welfare crisis in Kano, where UNICEF reports that 51.9% of children under five suffer from stunting due to chronic malnutrition, and over 10% are wasted—dangerously underweight for their height. UNICEF’s Kano Field Office Chief, Rahma Farah, described the situation as a “major public health concern,” urging investment in nutrition, education, clean water, and healthcare.
It is unreasonable for Kano to believe it can better care for these children than Prof. Tarfa and his wife, seasoned educators with three decades of service
Kano Health Commissioner Abubakar Labaran highlighted new maternal and child health initiatives and pledged deeper collaboration with UNICEF to address malnutrition. However, Ogebe argued that the state’s resources are stretched thin, particularly with Nigeria’s highest number of out-of-school children, known as almajiris.
“It is unreasonable for Kano to believe it can better care for these children than Prof. Tarfa and his wife, seasoned educators with three decades of service,” he said. “The state should focus on almajiris in need and allow the Du Merci children to return to their loving homes.”
The plight of the remaining children continues to draw attention, with advocates vowing to press for their release and an end to what they call a grave injustice.
