NY Times: Lead Poisoning Kills Nigerian Children

In the last six months, more that 400 children have died of lead poisoning in Nigeria. The deaths occurred in seven villages in Zamfara State, where runoff from illegal gold mining, which contains high concentrations of lead, entered the soil and water supply. Disturbingly enough, local residents are "reluctant to disclose the poisoning for fear the authorities will ban the gold mining... for two weeks, villagers in Bagega denied any deaths or illnesses among the children in the village." 

This is such a sad, disturbing story -- that villagers would risk and pretty much give up their children's lives for money. By not wanting to give up the gold mining, they are pretty much murdering their children, at least the way I see it. I feel like there should be some kind of punishment or consequence for this, however the article doesn't say anything about that. It simply states that, "denying that the problem exists 'delays and hampers intervention and makes it too late when it eventually comes." That is absolutely horrible. Innocent young lives in exchange for money. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/world/africa/07nigeria.html?_r=1&ref=world