Follow Us on Google
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has offered to support the education of Yusuf Aliyu, a teenage artisanal miner in Niger State whose account of conditions at a gold mining site has gone viral.
Aliyu’s video gained renewed attention following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State. The Federal Government has since constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths and the circumstances surrounding the arrests and detention.
In a statement posted on X on Sunday, Atiku said he was concerned that Aliyu, whom he described as intelligent and confident, was working at a mining site rather than attending school.
“I have watched Yusuf Aliyu’s video repeatedly, and each time, my heart breaks. A child with such intelligence, clarity and confidence should be in a classroom building his future not struggling for survival in a community surrounded by gold but buried in poverty,” Atiku said.
He also appealed for Aliyu’s safety, warning that the attention generated by the teenager’s account should not expose him or his family to intimidation or retaliation.
“I am prepared to support his education and ensure that the brilliance we have witnessed is not buried by poverty,” he said, adding that any attempt to reach the teenager should be made through his family and appropriate child-protection channels.
Aliyu, who spoke to News Central Television, alleged that NSCDC personnel had shot at miners at the gold mining site. He also disputed the initial explanation that the deaths of detainees were linked to a suspected disease outbreak, saying young people at the site worked to support their families and pay their school fees.
The cause of the 37 deaths has not been established. The Federal Government’s investigation is expected to examine the arrests, detention conditions, cause and circumstances of the deaths, as well as determine responsibility and recommend appropriate action where necessary. Twenty-one NSCDC officers have also been suspended in connection with the incident.
Atiku used Aliyu’s account to question the persistence of poverty in communities where mineral resources are being extracted. He also called on the Federal Government to explain the status of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) in Niger State and account for what happened to the miners in custody.
The former vice-president said the government should ensure that mineral wealth translates into education and livelihoods for communities where mining takes place, rather than leaving children to enter hazardous work because of poverty.
The 10-member committee, constituted by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report. The panel is also empowered to access relevant facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and receive memoranda from members of the public.
