Nigeria, April 20 -- Eight children have died while two others are in critical condition after a pit caved in the Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State on Saturday.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the pit caved in and collapsed on the children while they were collecting sand.

Confirming the incident to BBC Hausa, as monitored by PREMIUM TIMES, the Chairman of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Dahiru Ambursa, said the children were Almajirai who went there to collect sand.

Almajarai are children placed in the care of Islamic clerics to learn Quranic education. However, many of them are used for menial jobs and begging by the clerics.

Mr Ambursa said the local government administration has sealed off the pits to avoid future occurr...