11 Children Killed, 7 Seriously Injured as Pit Collapses in Nigeria

• Kaduna State Police spokesperson Mansir Hassan said a pit collapsed outside Yardoka village in Northern Nigeria, killing 11 children
• Seven children were injured in the tragic incident and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital
• Authorities are investigating potential child labour involvement as police and volunteers recover the victims' bodies

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nigeria - At least eleven children have been confirmed dead following a tragic incident in Northern Nigeria.

In a statement on Wednesday, June 4, Kaduna State Police Spokesperson Mansir Hassan said the children were buried alive when a pit collapsed outside Yardoka village.

How 11 children died in Nigeria

According to Hassan, the children, aged between four and nine, were excavating sand for making mud bricks when the pit outside Yardoka village in Kaduna state collapsed on them.

The police boss disclosed that seven children were injured and were rushed to the hospital, where they are receiving treatment.

Volunteers managed to recover the bodies of all 11 victims and were taken to the mortuary for preservation.

"Eleven children died, and seven others were injured and are now in the hospital receiving treatment. Our men, along with volunteers from the village, dug out the victims from the collapsed pit," Hassan said, as reported by CGTN Africa.

Police are investigating whether the children were recruited to work, which would be considered child labour, Hassan said.

Children from impoverished backgrounds are often sent to these madrassas to study the Koran. To cover their school fees, many of them resort to begging on the streets or taking up low-paying jobs.

According to Barron's news, attempts by authorities and local groups to reform the age-old madrassa system have faced opposition from traditional clerics.

In February, 17 pupils were killed and 17 others were severely injured when a fire tore through the lodging of a madrassa in northwestern Zamfara state, according to police.

Did dead miners ignore safety warnings?

A devastating tragedy occurred on Monday, March 3, when a gold mine at the Lumba site in North Ramba, Rarieda sub-county, collapsed, trapping six female miners inside.

The women were reportedly carrying out their usual mining tasks when the shaft suddenly caved in around 3pm, burying them beneath the rubble.

Five bodies had been recovered, but one woman remained missing, raising fears that she had also succumbed to the disaster.

Police, emergency responders, and local residents worked tirelessly overnight to find the missing miner.

Siaya County Police Commander Serah Koki confirmed the incident, stating that a multi-agency team had been deployed to support the rescue operation.

The bodies that had been recovered were transported to the Bondo sub-county hospital mortuary, where postmortem examinations are anticipated.

Caroline Oginga, the village elder of Lumba, revealed that the women who lost their lives in this tragic accident had previously been cautioned against working in the unstable mine.

The shaft, she noted, was located on private land and had been abandoned due to serious safety concerns. Despite these warnings, the women proceeded with their mining activities, hoping to extract gold from the 15-foot-deep tunnel.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke