Atiku pledges scholarship to viral Niger teen miner

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar pledged to support the education of Yusuf Aliyu, a teenage artisanal miner from Niger State, in light of viral reports detailing the deaths of 37 miners in the area. Atiku expressed deep sorrow over the situation, stating that Aliyu's intelligence and confidence should be nurtured in a classroom rather than working at a mining site. He criticized the current administration for failing to protect children like Aliyu and warned against exposing him or his family to danger.

The former Vice President also disputed the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps' initial explanation for the miners' deaths, which they claimed was due to a disease outbreak. Aliyu, in a video interview, alleged that NSCDC personnel had been shooting at miners, and disputed the government's assertion that the deaths were related to a disease outbreak. He emphasized that the boys were not engaged in illegal mining and were simply trying to support their families.

Atiku called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the status of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (PAGMI) in Niger State, which was established under the previous administration to integrate artisanal miners into the formal economy. He criticized the current government for criminalizing poor individuals instead of providing them with opportunities for a better life.

The deaths are currently under investigation by a 10-member independent committee and a committee of inquiry set up by the Niger State Government.