Digging For Survival: The Story Of Plateau Underage Miners
“I come here to make money. I don’t go to school or learn any skill. I have been mining for over a year. I use the money to buy food, cloths and shoes for myself. I also support my father with the money I make from tin mining,” Umar Faruk, a 12-year-old boy from Mista Ali in Bassa Local Government Area, who abandoned school to make money at the mining site said. He is one of the underage miners in Plateau State.
Not giving up on education, Faruk also said, “I hope to go back to school in the future and one day become a medical doctor and help my parents and others, especially my community.”
Under the scorching sun, children gather at the sandpits of mining sites with determined looks on their faces, digging and scooping sand to extract precious mineral resources. Despite the biting sun, children who are supposed to be in classrooms were seen scooping loads of sand in an attempt to reach the hidden treasures beneath the earth.
After excavation, other children gather the sand and load it into small containers and sacks, then carry it on their heads to the waterside, where they separate the valuable treasure from ordinary sand.
It is a routine that starts as early as 7am. Children, including boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 16, were seen walking to mining sites, equipped with diggers, containers, shovels, hoes and sacks in search of tin, iron and tantalite in various villages of Bassa, Jos North, Jos South and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the state.
Just like their male counterparts, underage girls are also actively involved in mining, starting their day as early as 7am and heading to the mining sites in search of financial gain.
The reasons given by the girls for engaging in mining are similar to those of the boys. They attributed their involvement in dangerous mining activities to poverty, loss of parents or the need to raise money for their education.
According to the International Labour Organisation, at least one million children aged between 5 and 17 work in goldmines around the world. In Nigeria, thousands of adults and children engage in such activities, working for long hours in various mines as a way of making a livelihood out of a dangerous situation.
These children risk their health for little amounts of money they are paid at the open market for the tin they source from the mines. With most of them trading education for mining, it only shows that the labour law in Nigeria still has a long way to go.
Nigeria has laws requiring basic education and prohibiting child labour, but enforcement is a challenge. Many miners use children they usually pay stipends, just to enable them put a meal on the table for a day.
In Anguwan Gurum community in Bassa Local Government Area, the children, who mostly walk one or two kilometres from their homes to the Alibras mining site to work long hours, said they preferred to work directly and make money rather than being hired by other people. Some of the children accompany their parents to work in mining pits.
Some of the children who spoke with Weekend Trust said that in addition to the harsh economic realities in the country, which their families currently face, the absence of parental guidance and support due to loss of one or both parents left them with little or no option than to fend for themselves; hence they engage in mining activities and abandon education, explaining that they lacked financial support. However, some others said they purposely abandoned schools to make money.
Israel Bulus, a 13-year-old boy, said he had finished primary school but yet to enroll in secondary school due to financial constraint, a situation that forced him into mining as he needed to make money to buy uniform and other school materials.
“I came to the mining site to earn money for my school fees and support my education. I want to continue with education because it is very important for a sustainable future, which I strive to have,” Bulus, who dreams to become a lawyer said.
The story of Faruk Musa, an 11-year-old orphan and primary four pupil, is not different from that of his colleague at the Sabon Feggi mining site. He goes to school but not always because he raises money from mining to buy school materials and support his education and that of his younger sister.
“I have been promoted to primary five now but I don’t have money at the moment to buy my uniform because my father is late. That is why I engage in mining. There is nobody to support me and my younger sibling. I want to continue with my education up to the university level to become a naval officer in the future, “he said, enthusiastically.
A 9-year-old boy, Isma’il Haruna, who lost his father some years back, wishes to go to school but does not have anyone to support him; hence he saw the need to participate in mining.
Isma’il, who has never attended school said, “I come to mine to get money for my education. I have been gathering the money. I use part of whatever I earn here to buy food and keep the remaining for my school expenses because I want to go to school, no matter what.”
Some parents also spoke to Weekend Trust on why they allowed their underage children to go into mining despite the dangers involved in it.
Hamza Usman, the father of Umar Faruk, a 12-year-old boy and one of the underage children who engage in mining, said he enrolled his son in school and a garage to learn a skill, but he refused to attend classes or learn.
Usman said, “The truth is that I tried my best to ensure that my son got education, but he refused. He would wear his school uniform from home, but instead of going to school, he would go for mining.”
He said he later decided to let him continue since he didn’t want to attend school, explaining, “If I forced him to stop, he might fall into something worse. So, since he can mine and buy his own food and cloths, I just let him be. That’s the situation.”
Usman noted that the rest of the family members disapproved of his decision to allow Umar engage in mining, but he felt he had no choice, saying he did not want him to steal or engage other illegitimate activities.
Asked how much they make, he said they earned between N10,000 and N26,000 per sale, depending on the quantity of tin they gathered, with one kilogram selling at N26,000.
Our correspondent learnt that these children can collect a kilogram within a day or two, depending on their luck. On good days, they spend about N1,000 to N2000 on food.
Weekend Trust also reports that even the rains at its peak across the country have not deterred the zeal and determination of these children from searching for tin from the mines. According to them, when it rains, especially when the rain is heavy, they cover themselves with raincoats or take shelter in local tents.
A 14-year-old Jonathan Musa said, “When it rains, we do not run home. We have places where we can take shelter, especially in local tents. Sometimes we spend the night at the site if the situation permits or the rain continues into the night.”
Speaking on the dangers involved at mining sites, the children said they hardly went into deep sandpits because only adults enter such spots.
“If I am lucky, in a day I can collect tin of N10,00 to N30,000. But sometimes, I have to gather what I have for one or more days before I sell. I am going to JS1 now and I don’t know the fees. I will be able to know the amount when I resume,” he said.
Maryam Isa, a 13-year-old girl and primary six pupil who mines with her mother, said, “We mine together with my mother. But we don’t stay here until night. I go around to collect sand, which I often wash to separate the tin. I can get 1kg or less in a day. I give the money to my mother to keep or buy cloths for me. If the weight is up to 1kg, I can sell it at N26,000.
According to Maryam, despite visiting the mining sites, she goes to school, adding that what she earns supports her education.
For Maryam’s mother, Aisha Isa, she works with her daughter to earn a living and support their family through mining. She said, “Whatever my daughter and I collect, we sell and use the money for her school fees and household responsibilities. Our earnings vary, depending on luck. Sometimes we sell tin worth N30,000 or N40,000. Her school fees is N20,000, apart from of other expenses.
Hajara Mustafa, the mother of a 12-year-old Isma’il Mustafa, who dropped out of school when he was promoted to JS2 in 2024 said, “Initially, he was enrolled in a mechanic workshop, but his friends drew him into mining. I don’t know his earnings, but he buys cloths and occasionally gives us N1,000 or N2,000 for food since his father passed away. He doesn’t sleep at home and I don’t like the fact that he spends nights outside.
For nearly two years, I have not seen any significant achievement from the mining, which is why I always advise him to return to school. Apart from the expenses he does for himself, I haven’t seen any notable gain, so it is better for him to focus on education. However, based on his response, I am not sure he is willing to return. It is a significant challenge for me. I don’t support the mining business due to its unreliability.”
One of the black market tin buyers at Barkin Ladi Abubakar Gambo, who spoke to Weekend Trust said, “These children sell their Tin to me almost every day, except they return late. They bring it more often than the adults because they sell in small quantities, like 1kg, 2kg or even half kg, depending on what they were able to collect that day. Adults bring theirs in large quantities. I buy a kilogram at the rate of N26,000.
Gambo said the children had been in the business for years, and as they grow up, younger ones are coming behind them. “A 20-year-old miner might have been selling tin for the past eight years or thereabouts. A 15-year-old might have been selling for five years or less. It has been going on for more than two decades. The only difference is that nowadays, there are too many children in the business, unlike before when only few engaged in it,” he said.
Another tin buyer at Mista Ali in Bassa Local Government Area, Bulus Kefas, who disapproves of children’s involvement in the business, said, “I buy tin from the children but I am not happy to see them engaging in this business when they are supposed to be in school. I buy from them because I understand that even their parents need them to help with food at home. I will not allow my children to participate in this business because it will make them lose focus in life and expose them to money and illicit behaviours.”
Many underage miners are orphans – Supervisors
Mining supervisors who spoke to our correspondent said although they usually discouraged underage children from engaging in mining, many of them were orphans who lack proper family guidance.
Sharing her experience, Pauline Ali, a mining survivor and crime consultant noted, “Whenever I visit mining areas, I try to send them back home. However, I realised that many of them won’t be able to afford school fees, especially orphaned students in private schools. They often tell me that they were sent away from school due to unpaid fees. I have even paid for some of them. Others can’t afford books.”
Sunday Bitrus, a youth leader at Gurum, a mining site in Bassa Local Government Area, condemned parents’ involvement in mining, describing it as unfortunate. He said, “Minors shouldn’t be here; the implications are severe. Some parents allow their children to mine due to economic struggles. When children return from mining, some parents demand money for food from them, thereby putting the burden of providing for the family on them.”
Bitrus added that while some parents disapproved of their children mining, peer pressure played a major role. “Children see their friends making money and feel compelled to join them, believing that they can also make the same money. That’s what is drawing many to mining,” he explained.
Gov’t working to curtail menace – SUBEB
Sunday Samuel Amuna, the executive chairman of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), confirmed the impact of mining on school enrollment, but said, “As a government, we have commenced sensitisation efforts, engaging community and traditional leaders who are custodians of the pupils to draw attention to the importance of education. Students of school age are required by law to attend school, and failure to comply can result in prosecution of parents.
“We are focusing on advocacy rather than enforcement, appealing to people to see the value in educating their children instead of engaging in mining or other activities detrimental to their progress. We believe that advocacy would lead to breakthrough.”
He added that the state government was developing a new curriculum that would incorporate vocational skills, including mining-related activities. “With the new curriculum we will create opportunities for vocational skills and economic activities. We will fashion out a win-win situation for both the government and the children,” he said.
He added that better enrollment was expected in the new academic session, especially with new infrastructure in place, saying, “Parents have assured us of better enrollment and we are optimistic.”
Recently, Governor Caleb Mutfwang expressed concern over the situation, describing it as alarming, and called on community and religious leaders to join hands with the government to address the menace of underage mining.
According to the National Mass Education Programme Initiative (NMPI) 2022, Plateau State had a significant percentage of out-of-school children, with approximately 23.2 per cent of them aged between 6 and 15 affected.
School authorities in the state confirmed that despite providing free education to pupils, enrollment has declined due to mining activities and other factors, adding that many primary school children are either skipping classes or dropping out of school.
Mrs Rose Bitti, the headmistress of Baptist Primary School, Dorowa Babuje, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area lamented, “Mining has brought lots of problems in the schools. Since the discovery of tin around Dorowa community in the last few years – 2020 till date – we have been experiencing low enrollment and absenteeism despite free education.”
Saying that the situation has continued to worsen, she noted that parents were partly to blame as some guardians even take their children to sites where they all engage in mining activities.
She said, “Even primary one pupils who don’t know much about life skip classes; some stop coming because of the money they make from tin mining.”
Similarly, Abubakar Musa Muhammad, the headmaster of Islamic Orientation School, Barkin Ladi, confirmed poor enrollment and absenteeism in schools, attributing the situation to mining activities in the area.
“Mining activities have affected school enrollment. Some students stop coming to school while some would be absent for weeks. When you ask, a lot of them would tell you that they go to mining sites,” she revealed.
Muhammad, who is the secretary-general of Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah in the area, noted that mining activities had affected most of the schools under their organisation, adding that only few now attend classes. He said that before mining activities began between 2021 and 2022, they had over 2,000 students, but the number dropped drastically to 1,000 or less presently.”
Another headmaster, Elisha Haruna of ECWA Primary School, Farin Lamba in Bassa Local Government Area, also lamented poor enrollment and absenteeism. It is a dangerous situation – Expert
Emmanuel Dang, a lecturer in the Faculty of Education, University of Jos, described the situation as alarming and dangerous for the society. He said, “When mining activities commence, these children flock to the sites. Some parents even celebrate when their children earn money from these activities, which is not a positive development. The danger lies in exposing children to handling money at a young age. Once the mining activities cease, they may struggle to concentrate on meaningful pursuits because they have become accustomed to having money.
“The impact is that we will end up raising a generation of people who don’t value education and are likely to engage in other social vices, such as sexual assault, drug abuse, stealing and other criminal activities, leading to insecurity. This will ultimately make the society a problem unto itself.”
He said both parents and the government were to blame for the menace, adding that both parties have roles to play in addressing the problem.
“The issue is multifaceted. The government has all the machinery to enforce law. If the government says that a child between a certain age must be in school, that is possible. If underage children are seen in mining sites, the parents must be prosecuted. If law enforcement agencies take it upon themselves and one or two persons are prosecuted as a result of that, parents will wake up.
“Government should also provide incentives that will encourage parents. For instance, let the schools be free and well equipped. Because of the poverty in the land, many parents will feel there is no need to take their children to school. But if everything if free, it would go longer way.
As a responsible parent, you don’t give birth to a child and run away from responsibilities. If you give birth to a child, you need to give that child good health, shelter and food. Parents should be responsible for their children. Both parents and the government need to be blamed for this,” he said.
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