Childhood appears to have gone into oblivion in many parts of Niger State as underage children can be seen taking part in illegal gold mining. The situation reveals the harsh economic realities that most families are struggling to contain. The presence of underage children at the mining sites extends to the girl child, as children were a familiar sight at many mining sites across the state.
Seventeen-year-old Yazeed Aliyu is one of the underage children caught between the need to survive and the desire to remain in school. Aliyu said he had been taking part in illegal gold mining for some time, though intermittently, as he attends school. The income from the activity had helped him pay his school fees and reduced the financial burden on his parents.
A 12-year-old girl, who only gave her name as Habi, revealed that economic hardship had forced her to drop out of school. She lost her father at the age of six and life had been difficult for her family since then. She decided to drop out of junior secondary school to assist her mother, who also engages in mining activities.
What began as a routine crackdown on illegal mining in Niger State has turned into a tragedy that has left families mourning, residents angry and authorities scrambling for answers. Tension gripped Minna, the Niger State capital, following reports that 37 suspected illegal artisanal miners had died while in the custody of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The victims were among 66 suspects reportedly arrested during enforcement operations conducted by NSCDC operatives in Minna and other parts of the state on September 15 and 16. According to accounts from survivors and relatives, the suspects were kept in an overcrowded detention facility where they allegedly struggled for air as conditions inside the cell deteriorated.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, who has now been placed under suspension by the Minister of Interior, said in a statement that the detainees were found dead in the early hours of Thursday, following what the Corps described as a suspected disease outbreak. The command said the bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, remains fully committed to the enforcement of human rights. The Corps, in synergy with sister security agencies, is on top of the situation, and the Command appeals to the general public and the families of the deceased to remain calm and desist from any actions that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
Key points
- 37 suspected illegal miners died in NSCDC custody
- Underage children are being pushed into illegal gold mining due to poverty
- The incident has raised demands for accountability and justice
