Eleven Children Buried Alive in Nigeria Sand Pit Collapse

Eleven children died and seven were injured in a sand pit collapse in Kaduna, Nigeria. Engaged in sand excavation for mud bricks, these children were tied to an informal madrassa. Police are investigating child labor practices amid ongoing discussions regarding the madrassa system’s safety reforms.

In a tragic incident in northern Nigeria, eleven children were buried alive due to a sand pit collapse, as confirmed by local police. The children, aged between four and nine years old, were engaged in sand excavation intended for mud brick manufacturing when the incident occurred outside the village of Yardoka in Kaduna state on Tuesday.

Mansir Hassan, a spokesperson for the Kaduna state police, reported that “eleven of the children died and seven others were injured and now in hospital receiving treatment.” Emergency responders, alongside local volunteers, worked tirelessly to recover the victims from the rubble of the collapsed pit.

The police are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the children’s involvement in such work, as it raises concerns over potential child labor practices. The children were reportedly affiliated with an informal madrassa, which is a type of Islamic religious school prevalent in predominantly Muslim regions of northern Nigeria.

Typically, children from impoverished families are sent to madrassas to learn the Koran while some engage in various activities such as begging or low-paying jobs to cover their educational expenses. Efforts to reform the traditional madrassa system have met resistance from established clerics who oppose changes to long-standing practices.

This tragic event is reminiscent of a previous incident in February when 17 students died, and another 17 suffered severe injuries after a fire engulfed their madrassa lodging in northwestern Zamfara state. Such recurring tragedies highlight the need for urgent regulatory reforms regarding child safety and labor practices in Nigeria’s informal educational systems.

The recent sand pit collapse that claimed the lives of eleven children in Nigeria has raised serious concerns about child labor in the region. With children as young as four excavating sand, authorities are investigating potential violations of labor laws. This incident underscores the ongoing debates around informal madrassas and child welfare amidst calls for reform in the education system. Previous tragedies also highlight the urgent need for intervention in protecting vulnerable children.

Original Source: thesun.my