Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the plight of Yusuf Aliyu, a teenage artisanal miner in Niger State, whose account of conditions at a gold mining site has gone viral. Atiku described Aliyu as intelligent and confident, emphasizing that he should be in school rather than working at a mining site. Aliyu's video gained renewed attention following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths and the circumstances surrounding the arrests and detention of the miners. The committee, led by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report. The panel is empowered to access relevant facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident, and receive memoranda from members of the public.
Atiku Abubakar has offered to support Aliyu's education, ensuring that his brilliance is not buried by poverty. He appealed for Aliyu's safety, warning that the attention generated by the teenager's account should not expose him or his family to intimidation or retaliation. Atiku added that any attempt to reach Aliyu should be made through his family and appropriate child-protection channels.
Aliyu, in an interview with News Central Television, alleged that NSCDC personnel had shot at miners at the gold mining site. He disputed the initial explanation that the deaths of detainees were linked to a suspected disease outbreak, saying young people at the site worked to support their families and pay their school fees. The cause of the 37 deaths has not been established.
Twenty-one NSCDC officers have been suspended in connection with the incident. Atiku used Aliyu's account to question the persistence of poverty in communities where mineral resources are being extracted. He called on the Federal Government to explain the status of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) in Niger State and account for what happened to the miners in custody.
The former vice-president emphasized that the government should ensure that mineral wealth translates into education and livelihoods for communities where mining takes place, rather than leaving children to enter hazardous work because of poverty. Atiku's offer to support Aliyu's education is seen as a positive step towards addressing the challenges faced by young people in mining communities.
The investigation into the deaths of the 37 miners is ongoing, and the Federal Government is expected to take action based on the committee's findings. The incident has highlighted the need for better regulation of artisanal mining and improved living conditions for communities affected by mining activities.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar offers education support to Yusuf Aliyu, a teenage artisanal miner in Niger State.
- The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member committee to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners.
- Twenty-one NSCDC officers have been suspended in connection with the incident.
