Despite Govt Ban, Illegal Mining Flourish in Bauchi, Children Abandon Schools

In Bauchi State’s mining communities, children as young as 10 abandon classrooms for mining sites. They toil alongside adults, extracting sand and breaking rocks under the scorching sun, hoping to scrape together enough for their families to survive. For these children, education is a distant dream distorted by the immediate demands of poverty. WikkiTimes’ Babaji Usman writes.

,

Hopping to Riches: How Jigawa Residents Make Fortune Selling Frogs

For Muhammad Isah, a 32-year-old Crop Science graduate, unemployment led him into frog trading—a decision that transformed his life. Today, he earns over ₦150,000 monthly, supporting his family. Hadejia, Jigawa, is Nigeria’s frog trade hub, supplying local and global markets. Despite challenges like rising costs and environmental concerns, the business sustains thousands and generates significant government revenue, providing a lifeline for many displaced by conflict.

Headshot of an elderly African man wearing a grey-balck T-shirt.
,

Benue Farmers Seek Government, Security Intervention as They Lose Farmlands, Loved Ones to Herders Invasion

The conflict between farmers and pastoralists in Nigeria has led to loss of livelihood for farmers in affected communities. This conflict has intensified over the past decade, with Benue state becoming one of the hardest hit in the country. Amnesty International recorded that over 2,600 people died from the humanitarian crises in the state between January 2023 and February 2024. The same report notes that 18 out of the 23 Local Government Areas in the state are affected, stressing that this has fuelled displacement, kidnapping and rape.