11 Almajirai Die in Kaduna Sand Heap Collapse, 3 More Burnt to Death in Adamawa

Eleven almajirai pupils died on Monday after a sand heap collapsed in Yardoka village, Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The children, aged between 10 and 15, were reportedly digging sand to help their Quranic teacher mold blocks for building a mud house when the accident happened around 1:45 pm. The victims were identified as Muntari Abdulkadir, Aliyu Abba, Ali Umar, Mubarak Haruna, Usain Isa, Yusuf Shafiu, Mujitafa Jibril, Yusha’u Saidu, Aliyu Abdu, Hamisu Mohammed, and Ali Abdulmomini. They came from Yardoka and neighboring villages in the Damau District.

Seven other children—Umar Dini, Jibir Surajo, Usman Abdulmomini, Sagir Hussaini, Naziru Abdullahi, Aminu Alkasim, and Kabiru Lawal—were rescued with injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Primary Healthcare Centre in Yardoka. According to a village head who spoke anonymously, nine of the deceased were almajirai who had come to study with their teacher, and the sand digging was not for commercial purposes but a common activity for villagers renovating homes. A local resident described the incident as devastating.

The Kaduna State Police Command confirmed the tragedy. Police Public Relations Officer DSP Mansir Hassan stated that officers were dispatched to the scene following a distress call, and a full investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collapse. Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Adamawa State, three almajirai were reportedly burnt to death.