A devastating incident has shaken Yardoka community in Kaduna State, where a sand heap collapse resulted in the deaths of 11 almajirai children.
The children, aged between four and nine, were excavating sand for making mud bricks when the pit caved in.
According to eyewitnesses, the children were working in a sand pit when the collapse occurred, trapping them beneath the rubble.
Residents disclosed that the children were engaged in the activity as a form of contribution to their teacher’s housing project when the sand gave way, burying them underneath. Local efforts to rescue them were unsuccessful.
The victims have been identified as; Muntari Abdulkadir, Aliyu Abba, Ali Umar, Mubarak Haruna, Usain Isa, Yusuf Shafiu, Mujitafa Jibril, Yusha’u Saidu, Aliyu Abdu, Hamisu Mohammed, and Ali Abdulmomini. They hailed from Yardoka and surrounding communities in the Damau District.
Seven other individuals — Umar Dini, Jibir Surajo, Usman Abdulmomini, Sagir Hussaini, Naziru Abdullahi, Aminu Alkasim, and Kabiru Lawal — were rescued with varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Primary Healthcare Centre in Yardoka.
According to Mansir Hassan, Kaduna State Police spokesperson, “Eleven of the children died and seven others were injured and now in hospital receiving treatment.”
The police and volunteers from the village worked together to dig out the victims from the collapsed pit.
The rescue efforts were carried out in a bid to save those trapped, but unfortunately, many lives were lost.
The incident has raised concerns about child labour, as the children were from an informal madrassa, or Islamic religious school, common in predominantly Muslim northern Nigeria.Nigerian cultural tours
Hassan noted that the police are investigating whether the children were recruited to work, which would be considered child labour.
The investigation aims to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible.