A devastating incident in northern Nigeria has claimed the lives of 11 children after a sand pit collapsed on Tuesday outside Yardoka village in Kaduna State. The children, aged between four and nine, were reportedly digging for sand used in making mud bricks when the pit caved in, burying them alive.
According to Mansir Hassan, the Kaduna State police spokesperson, seven other children sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in hospital. Rescue efforts were led by local police officers and village volunteers who managed to retrieve the victims from beneath the rubble.
The tragedy has sparked fresh concerns about child labour and safety in informal learning environments, as all the affected children were from a local madrassa—an Islamic religious school common in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim northern region. These schools, while aimed at religious education, often lack regulation and oversight. Many children attending them come from impoverished families and are forced to beg or engage in menial jobs to afford their fees.
Kaduna authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on whether the children were recruited to work—a scenario that could classify the tragedy as a case of illegal child labour.
Madrassas have come under scrutiny in recent years, as they often operate outside formal educational frameworks. Despite attempts by the government and local organizations to reform the system and integrate better welfare and educational standards, these efforts have frequently met resistance from conservative clerics and community leaders who see them as an attack on religious tradition.
This latest incident comes just months after another disaster in February, when a fire swept through a madrassa dormitory in Zamfara State, killing 17 pupils and severely injuring 17 more.
The repeated tragedies highlight the urgent need for policy interventions and stronger enforcement of child protection laws. As the country mourns the young lives lost, there are growing calls for improved safety regulations, reform of the madrassa system, and a national conversation around child labour and access to quality education in underserved communities.
