Eleven Kids Buried Alive in Nigeria Sand Pit Collapse

On Tuesday, a sand pit collapse in Kaduna state, Nigeria, resulted in the deaths of eleven children aged four to nine, who were excavating sand for mud bricks. Seven other children were injured and receiving treatment. The investigation into potential child labor is ongoing, amid challenges faced by madrassas in reforming educational practices.

In a tragic incident in northern Nigeria, a sand pit collapsed on Tuesday, burying eleven children alive. The victims, aged between four and nine, were working to excavate sand for mud bricks outside the village of Yardoka in Kaduna state. According to police spokesperson Mansir Hassan, the victims were quickly rescued by local volunteers and police, but, unfortunately, all eleven children died, and seven more sustained injuries and are currently hospitalized for treatment.

The investigation is underway to determine whether these children were participating in work classified as child labor. According to Hassan, this matter is of particular concern, especially given that these children were attending an informal madrassa, or Islamic religious school, a common institution in this predominantly Muslim region of Nigeria.

Many families from impoverished backgrounds send their children to madrassas to receive Koranic instruction. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for these children to engage in menial labor or beg on the streets in order to help afford their education. Efforts by local authorities and organizations to reform the traditional madrassa system have faced significant challenges and resistance from established clerics, who are often set in their ways.

The dangers faced by children in similar environments were highlighted earlier this year when a fire in a madrassa lodging in northwestern Zamfara resulted in the deaths of 17 pupils and left another 17 severely injured, according to police reports. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for oversight and reform in such educational settings across Nigeria.

This devastating event has drawn attention to the precarious conditions faced by children in northern Nigeria, particularly those associated with informal madrassas. With investigations into child labor and the working conditions of these children ongoing, it emphasizes the need for systemic reforms to protect vulnerable youths from similar tragedies in the future. The plight of these children and their immediate families must remain a priority for both local and national authorities.

Original Source: thesun.my