Mohammed Umaru Bago, the governor of Niger State, has asked religious leaders to use their sermons to dissuade parents from letting their adolescents work as artisanal miners.
Following the deaths of 37 young artisanal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bago made the call on Tuesday during a condolence visit to the Government House in Minna by the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter.
The governor urged parents to enrolll their children in school instead of exposing them to the risks involved with artisanal mining, stating that the state government had made basic and secondary education free.
“We are plagued by the crisis that occurred in the custody of the NSCDC,” he declared. Please urge parents to keep their kids away from this risky industry.
“Please use the churches and mosques to urge parents to enrolll their children in school so they can be better citizens in the future and to dissuade them from engaging in artisanal mining.
Since all of our children in Niger State receive free basic and secondary education, it is our collective duty to make sure that school enrolment is encouraged.
It has always been free, and we will keep reiterating that. Therefore, there is no justification for any parent to forbid their child from attending school.
“Therefore, call on our children to attend school by using the house of God in your sermons and preaching.”
Additionally, Bago promised that his administration will continue the investigation into the fatalities in order to find the truth.
He claimed that the tragedy may have been prevented and that security personnel’s alleged mistakes need to be looked into in detail.
He said, “This tragedy was preventable, but we have found ourselves with 37 deaths in our hands due to the officers’ lack of professionalism.”
“By the grace of God and the oath of office, we are going to make sure we pursue the matter to its logical conclusion because we cannot ignore this.”
Earlier, the governor, the administration, and the relatives of the deceased received the condolences of the Christian community from Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, Chairman of the CAN Niger State Chapter, and his deputy, Rev. Joshua Marcus Rikoto.
Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, asked for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and called the deaths of the 37 young artisanal miners in NSCDC custody “tragic.”
He praised Bago for putting the restoration of peace first after the tragedy, especially for delaying the start of his campaign.
“We thank you for ensuring peace is restored, and shifting the flag-off of your campaign demonstrates how humane you are,” he said.
The governor was urged by the CAN chairman to make sure that the actual circumstances behind the fatalities were determined.
He offered prayers for the deceased’s rest and consolation to the bereaved families.
Rev. Mathias Echioda, the immediate past Chairman of CAN Niger State, then offered prayers.