Vice President Kashim Shettima has implored the released 119 #endhunger protest minors to strive to be responsible citizens as they reunite with their families in Kano and Kaduna states. Shettima made the call while handing over the 119 released suspects to Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano and Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Vice-President handed over 73 released suspected minors to Gov. Yusuf of Kano and 39 to Gov. Sani of Kaduna State. NAN reports that three minors from Kano and four from Kaduna States were earlier released and reunited with their parents. Shettima described the event as solemn which called for sober reflection and for the country to look inward and find solutions to its challenges.

The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu instructed the release of the suspect on humanitarian grounds. This is despite compelling and incontrovertible digital video and photographic evidence of the perpetrators in action. Some of which were uploaded by the actors themselves.

Regarding this evidence, the president as the father of the nation, gave these young men another chance at becoming responsible citizens who will make a positive impact, in a drive. The Vice-President admonished the minors not to allow them to be used to perpetrate violence and destroy public and private property.

According to him, more than N300billion was lost in the protests, consisting mainly private property and loss of business. I will urge you, I will advise you, you are our children to use the opportunity of the President’s magnanimous gesture in ensuring that you overcome and become responsible citizens who will contribute to the growth of the society.

Shettima also urged the two governors and elected representatives across political divide to ensure that the children are rehabilitated and reintegrated to the fabric of their communities. He thanked President Tinubu for proving to the world that he is a father of the nation. We want to thank the President on behalf of our governors, on behalf of our members of the National Assembly for his magnanimity in granting pardon to these young children.

Not that they were exonerated from their crime, it's out of his own magnanimity. Most of the children of the instigators of the crime were not involved," he said. Gov. Yusuf, assured that under his watch protest that could lead to the destructions of private and public properties would not happen again. He extended the appreciation of Kano Government and the people of the state to President Tinubu for freeing the minors.

What the President did will continue to be in our mind. The President has shown his compassion. He has shown his humility. I want to assure Mr. President that by the grace of Allah that kind of protest will never ever happen in Kano so long as we are in leadership," he said.

Also, Gov. Sani of Kaduna assured that the children would be enrolled in school and trained on various skills acquisitions. Also, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the ministry had profile and medically examined all the children and declared them fit to be reunited with their parents. (NAN)