Eleven Children Killed in Sand Pit Collapse in Northern Nigeria

In northern Nigeria, a sand pit collapse resulted in the tragic deaths of eleven children, aged four to nine, who were excavating sand for mud bricks. Seven other children were injured and hospitalized. Authorities are investigating potential child labor violations related to their work. This incident shines a light on the challenges faced by children attending informal madrassas amid calls for reform in their educational environment.

In a tragic event on Tuesday, eleven children lost their lives in a sand pit collapse in northern Nigeria. According to police reports, the children, aged four to nine, were extracting sand to make mud bricks near Yardoka village in Kaduna state when the incident occurred.

Mansir Hassan, the police spokesperson for Kaduna state, confirmed that eleven children died on the spot, while seven others sustained injuries and are currently hospitalized.

Hassan mentioned that local police and village volunteers worked together to recover the victims from the rubble of the pit. Investigations are underway to determine if the children had been coerced into labor, which, if found true, would raise serious concerns regarding child labor practices.

The children were attending an informal madrassa, an Islamic educational institution that is prevalent in the largely Muslim northern regions of Nigeria. Many children from less privileged backgrounds are sent to these madrassas to study the Koran, with several engaging in activities such as begging or manual labor to contribute towards their school fees.

Previous attempts by local authorities and social organizations to reform the madrassa educational system have faced resistance from traditional religious leaders. Regrettably, this is not an isolated incident; just months ago in February, a fire broke out at a madrassa in northwestern Zamfara state, resulting in the deaths of 17 pupils and injuring another 17. Instances of such tragic events highlight the precarious situations these children face in pursuing education and the dire need for systemic changes in their environments.

The death of eleven children in Kaduna state’s sand pit collapse underscores the issues surrounding child labor and the informal education system in Nigeria. While recovery efforts were swift, the incident raises questions about the safety and welfare of children in similar situations. Moving forward, there is a pressing need for reform in the madrassa framework to ensure safer environments for vulnerable youth.

Original Source: thesun.my