In Nigeria’s Plateau State, a growing number of families are turning their own homes into mining sites, digging deep shafts in backyards in search of valuable minerals.

For decades, mining in the region was carried out far from residential areas. But rising poverty and the lure of mineral deposits lying just beneath the surface are now driving an unusual and risky shift closer to home.

Residents say the move is a matter of survival, as limited economic opportunities push households to take on the dangerous work themselves.

However, the practice has raised serious safety concerns, with unregulated digging increasing the risk of collapses and injuries, particularly in densely populated communities.

–ChannelAfrica–