The Zamfara State Government on Monday busted a rehabilitation centre in Gusau, the state capital rescuing 57 inmates tied in chains.
The raid on the house was led by the state commissioner for special duties Alhaji Muhammad Sadiq Maiturare and some officials from the state Ministry for Women and Children Affairs.
He said they invaded the house after a tip off and found the inmates kept in a horrible manner without proper care or adequate meals.
He said the state government would profile the inmates to ascertain their age and where they came from.
He added that governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle had ordered that the rescued inmates be taken hospital for medical check-up.
He explained that the rescued inmates especially the boys and girls would be taken to remand home after which their parents would be notified to come pick them.
He said nobody would be allowed to run such houses of torture in the state.
Speaking to newsmen, the owner of the rehabilitation centre, Mallam Abdullahi Iliyasu said he had been running the house for about 30 years.
He said he collected N15,700 for registration fees and another N10,000 monthly for food and medicine.
“The duration for the rehabilitation is between three to six months after which a parent can come and pick his ward. But we don’t torture any one here, we only rehabilitate them so that they become well-mannered,” he said.
However, some of the rescued inmates said they were being allowed to eat only once in a day, and whenever someone is admitted, he or she would receive 50 lashes. They said they were packed in one room without adequate ventilation.
