By Amos Tauna
Kaduna (Nigeria)- Kabobo, a village in Igabi local government area of Kaduna State, northwest of the country has a population of about 1,200.
The village which the inhabitants are mostly farmers, is 27 kilometers from Kaduna, the state capital.
In spite of its closeness to the state capital, Kabobo lacks essential amenities and the inhabitants live a complete primitive life coupled with poverty which characterized all their spheres of life.
They know nothing about family planning, their women do not go for antenatal during pregnancy nor their children immunized at their early years thereby exposed to all manners of diseases.
Though, a peaceful settlement that has been in existence for about 200 years, according to the community leader, Abdullahi Mai’aguwa Gabas Kabobo, many people have died in the community as a result of being inaccessible to healthcare facilities.
Explaining the situation of the inhabitants, he said “Women have suffered untold hardships especially pregnant women who only depend on local methods of child delivery.
“Sometimes some women during labor give birth on the way to a medical center that is very far away from the community and have to return home to continue using local herbs for the survival of their children.”
The situation of Kabobo community is an eye opener that most rural areas may be suffering worse situations looking at its proximity with the state capital.
The only government presence in the area is a block of two classrooms with 221 pupils attending the school. Worst still, other communities have to send their wards to the only primary school in the vicinity for the young ones to acquire western education.
A road that was constructed by the past Administration in the state which is almost impassable and a borehole constructed by an NGO can be said to be the only amenities available in the community.
According to the community leader, girls between the ages of 13 and 14 are given to marriage meaning that no single girl goes beyond primary education. The age bracket at which their girls are given out to marriage may also likely result in most of them encountering VVF
A look at the inhabitants of Kabobo, shows a pitiable level of poverty making their young ones to have the enabling environment to change the stories of their parents for better by acquiring education, while healthcare facilities are provided to enhance a better standard of living in the community seem to have been ignored.
My findings shows that the primary school, though well constructed, has only three teachers taking care of over 200 pupils.
Worst still, following the competency test organized by the state government, two teachers failed with only teacher now left until new teachers are recruited and posted to the community.
Kabobo community like any other rural area, according to those spoken to, deserves serious attention .
Reacting to the situation, especially, the early marriage, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hafsat Baba said the Ministry was not unaware of early marriage and that parents are sensitized on the consequences.
She noted with concern that some of such girls were always divorced and stranded but government comes in by providing them shelters to subsequently link them with their parents.
Those that were not from this State, she explained, were sent to theirs’ through the appropriate ministry.
