Niger rescues 19 children from illegal mining sites, parents face ₦5m bonds

In a recent operation, the Niger State Child Rights Protection Agency (NSCRA) successfully rescued 19 children from illegal mining sites, with the youngest estimated to be around eight years old. The children were found engaging in hazardous mining activities at a location near the MI Wushishi Housing Estate, despite the well-documented dangers associated with such work. Hajiya Ummul Mohammed, the Director-General of the NSCRA, revealed the rescue efforts during an interview with journalists in Minna, Nigeria.

According to Mohammed, the agency traced the parents of the affected children and compelled them to sign ₦5 million bonds each. This financial deterrent aims to discourage parents from allowing their children to return to the mining sites and potentially expose them to further harm. The NSCRA's intervention is part of their ongoing efforts to safeguard children from hazardous labor, exploitation, and other forms of abuse.

Mohammed emphasized the importance of protecting children from dangerous working environments and stressed that parental poverty or financial constraints should never serve as a justification for subjecting children to activities that could endanger their lives. The agency remains committed to intervening whenever children are discovered in hazardous conditions and called for increased vigilance from parents, community leaders, and other stakeholders.

Mohammed further appealed for stronger collaboration among government agencies and communities to prevent children from falling victim to exploitation in mining and other dangerous activities.