Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged educational support for Yusuf Aliyu, a teenage artisanal miner in Niger State whose interview has gone viral.
Atiku said the boy’s intelligence and confidence should be nurtured in a classroom rather than at a mining site.
He made the pledge in a statement posted on his X account. He also expressed sorrow over the deaths of 37 miners reportedly found dead in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The former vice president said Yusuf’s account had raised concerns about poverty, child welfare and the management of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
His comments followed a video in which the teenager discussed the circumstances surrounding the miners’ deaths.
Atiku Says Teenager Deserves Educational Support
Atiku said he had watched Yusuf’s video repeatedly and felt distressed by the teenager’s situation.
He argued that a child with such intelligence and confidence should have access to education and opportunities to build his future.
Atiku also said he did not view Yusuf simply as an “illegal miner.” Instead, he described him as a Nigerian child whose circumstances required attention and support.
The former vice president said he was prepared to help the teenager pursue his education.
He also stressed that any attempt to contact Yusuf must respect the child’s safety and welfare.
“I am prepared to support his education and ensure that the brilliance we have witnessed is not buried by poverty,” Atiku said.
The pledge comes amid broader discussions about access to education and employment opportunities for young Nigerians. FG Jobs Accessible Without Connections, FCC Commissioner Tells Enugu Youths
Atiku Appeals for Yusuf’s Safety
Atiku specifically appealed for Yusuf and his family to remain safe following the circulation of the video.
He warned that the teenager’s public comments should not expose him or his relatives to intimidation or retaliation.
The former vice president said any effort to reach the boy should go through his family and appropriate child-protection channels.
His statement emphasised the need to protect the teenager while addressing the issues raised by his account.
Child protection has also featured in other recent reports, including the Anambra Child Abuse: Mother Arrested Over Alleged Brutalisation of Seven-Year-Old Daughter case.
Teen Miner Challenges Account of Deaths
Yusuf spoke to News Central Television in a video that has circulated widely online.
During the interview, he alleged that NSCDC personnel had been shooting at miners at a gold mining site in Niger State.
He also disputed the corps’ initial explanation that a disease outbreak caused the deaths of miners in its custody.
The teenager said some of the miners were under 18 and questioned their detention in a cell.
He maintained that they were not engaged in illegal mining and said their work helped support their families.
Yusuf also explained that some young miners used their earnings to pay school fees and provide for their parents.
The claims remain allegations and should be distinguished from findings established by investigators.
Atiku Questions Poverty in Mineral-Rich Communities
Atiku said Yusuf’s account raised questions about why communities with valuable mineral resources continued to experience poverty.
He asked how communities sitting on gold could remain unable to provide adequate education and opportunities for their children.
The former vice president also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of artisanal miners.
He argued that the country’s mineral wealth should translate into better living conditions for the communities where extraction takes place.
Atiku’s comments focused on poverty, education and the distribution of benefits from mineral resources.
The debate over mineral development also connects with wider discussions about investment and economic growth. RMAFC Seeks Chinese Investment to Boost Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Revenue
Former Vice President Raises Questions About PAGMI
Atiku compared the current situation with the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI), established under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the initiative aimed to register, train and integrate artisanal miners into the formal economy.
Atiku noted that Niger State had been included among the initiative’s intervention areas.
He questioned what had happened to PAGMI in the state and called on the Federal Government to explain its current status.
He also asked the government to account for the deaths of the 37 miners in NSCDC custody.
Atiku’s remarks add to calls for an investigation into the deaths and scrutiny of government policies affecting artisanal miners.
Committees Set Up to Investigate Miners’ Deaths
The miners reportedly died after NSCDC operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
The corps initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak.
However, survivors reportedly alleged that overcrowding, poor ventilation, heat and dehydration contributed to the incident.
The actual cause of death had not been established in the report.
According to the report, the Federal Government constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths, the arrests and detention, and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Niger State Government also established a committee of inquiry, while the police began their own investigation.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests and deaths. Artisanal Mining President Demands Probe Into Death of Niger Miners
Atiku Calls for Answers and Protection of Children
Atiku said the government must explain how 37 Nigerians died while in the custody of a federal agency.
He argued that describing the miners as illegal operators should not diminish their humanity or remove the need for accountability.
He also called for an explanation of PAGMI’s status in Niger State.
The former vice president concluded by saying he would continue speaking up for children and their future.
He said the mineral wealth beneath communities should create classrooms and livelihoods rather than contribute to loss of life.
The case has also renewed attention on security operations and the treatment of people in custody. Oyo School Abduction: Five Ansaru Suspects Plead Not Guilty to Amended Charges
Related Developments
The Niger miners’ deaths have prompted concerns about public safety, accountability and government responsibilities.
Other recent reports have examined security and public welfare issues, including Tension as Suspected Thugs Prevent Peter Obi’s Convoy From Passing in Benue, Peter Obi Arrives Jos, Heads to Mangu to Visit Attack Victims, and Peter Obi’s Visit to Yelwata: NDC Condemns Alleged Obstruction.
Public institutions and government accountability have also featured in stories such as SERAP Demands Answers From INEC Over ₦126bn Missing Electoral Funds and Enugu Govt Denies Tax Protest, Says Transport Operators Sought Parking Space.
Other coverage of national policy includes 2027: Sowore Pledges ₦500,000 Wage, 24-Hour Electricity If Elected and Adebayo Urges Nigerian Youths to Take Politics Beyond Social Media.
Economic development and infrastructure remain prominent topics in the country. Related reports include SEDC to Launch 50,000-Hectare Agro-Mechanisation Project in Enugu to Fight Unemployment, Insecurity and NNPC Launches First Smart Self-Service Filling Station in Abuja.
Atiku’s scholarship pledge has placed Yusuf Aliyu’s education and safety at the centre of the discussion surrounding the Niger miners’ deaths. The investigations will need to establish how the miners died and determine whether anyone should be held responsible.
