In Nigeria, poverty is forcing many children to abandon their education and engage in gold mining. Musa, a 15-year-old from Minna, started mining at the age of 10 and has been out of school for five years. He wants to return to school but says there is no money to send him. Musa's story is not unique, as many young people in Niger State are facing similar choices between education and immediate income.
The issue of children engaging in gold mining has become a concern in some communities, particularly in the Kuta area of Shiroro Local Government Area. A school principal reported that many schools in the area have become largely empty due to children moving into mining. Some parents believe that mining offers a way to meet immediate needs and pay school fees, making it a more attractive option than education.
The expansion of mining has also brought the activity closer to homes and community spaces, causing damage to properties and threatening residents. Residents in the M.I. Wushishi and neighbouring communities reported that miners have damaged fences and affected properties, while some alleged that miners threatened residents who challenged their activities.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been conducting enforcement operations to arrest suspected illegal miners, but many of those arrested are released and return to mining due to lack of alternative sources of income. Some miners reported being asked for as much as N500,000 for bail, although negotiations could bring the amount down.
The NSCDC arrested over 100 suspected illegal miners in Niger State this year, with some charged to court and others granted bail. However, the repeated arrest and release of miners have raised concerns about the effectiveness of enforcement operations. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago questioned why parents who paid N500,000 to secure the release of their children did not bring the matter to the media or government earlier.
On September 17, the NSCDC announced that 37 suspected illegal miners detained after an operation had died. The Corps initially linked the deaths to a suspected outbreak of disease but stressed that the actual cause had not been conclusively established. The incident has brought the issue of children engaging in gold mining into global focus.
The underlying problem driving children into gold mining is poverty and the need for immediate survival. Many young people interviewed by DAILY POST said they had no alternative source of income and saw mining as a way to feed themselves and their families. The challenge of addressing the root causes of the issue remains, as many families rely on mining as a means of survival.
Key points
- Many Nigerian children are leaving school to mine gold due to poverty.
- Repeated enforcement operations have failed to address the issue of children engaging in gold mining.
- The root causes of the issue, including poverty and lack of alternative sources of income, need to be addressed.
