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| Stop Illegal Mining to End Banditry |
Banditry has been a major issue plaguing the North West and North Central regions of Nigeria. However, many of those tasked with combating bandits or liaising with security forces are unaware of the link between banditry and illegal mining.
Niger and Zamfara are among the few states in these regions rich in mineral deposits such as talc, gold, ball clays, silica, sand, marble, copper, iron, feldspar, lead, kaolin, cassiterite, columbite, mica, quartzite, and limestone. For years, many communities in these states have engaged in local mining as a secondary source of income, alongside farming. Almost every household in these communities participates in some form of mining.
These local miners, who rarely act as agents for major gold dealers, often take their gold and other minerals to Lagos, Port Harcourt, and sometimes to countries like Ghana and Benin Republic to sell to major dealers. Occasionally, dealers visit these states to buy directly from the local miners.
According to a recent investigative report by the Daily Trust, local mining in these states continued for a long time without security issues. While criminals engaged in kidnapping and cattle rustling, locals focused on farming and mining until envy among miners led to killings. For instance, when a miner found valuable gold, others would conspire to kill him and take the gold. This internal conflict among miners marked the beginning of banditry in these areas.
When bandits demanded ransom from those whose cattle they rustled or relatives they kidnapped, the victims' families often asked for time to sell their gold to pay the ransom. Bandits soon realized that those who quickly paid ransom were from gold mining families. Gradually, bandits began using informants to identify who had gold or valuable minerals, targeting their relatives for abduction.
Eventually, bandits became attracted to mining, seeing the potential for significant profits. Today, many mining sites in Zamfara and Niger are controlled by bandit leaders. Notorious bandit leader Kachalla Halilu, who allegedly obtained gold worth N150 million in Kanye village, Zamfara State, is now believed to focus more on mining than banditry. Numerous local miners reportedly work for him at various sites across the state.
Residents of some mining communities told investigative reporters that bandit leaders Bello Turji and Ado Alleiro allegedly own mining sites in Maru, Bukkuyyum, Maradun, and Tsafe LGAs of Zamfara State. They explained that while abductions and village attacks continue, mining sites are never targeted.
Despite ongoing terrorist attacks on communities in Niger State, illegal mining activities continue undisturbed in mineral-rich LGAs like Shiroro, Munya, Rafi, Paikoro, Mariga, Mashegu, and Kontagora. The only attack on a mining site occurred on June 29, 2022, in Ajata-Aboki, Gurmana ward of Shiroro LGA, where four Chinese nationals were kidnapped, and at least 43 lives were lost. This attack was attributed to a breach of agreement by the company’s managers.
The link between mining and banditry is clear. While we commend Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal for signing an Executive Order in January prohibiting traditional rulers from issuing consent letters for mining, and Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for profiling miners across Niger State on September 25, 2023, more needs to be done.
The government's neglect of illegal mining activities poses a serious risk. If left unchecked, miners could use their proceeds to buy advanced equipment, further entrenching their criminal activities. Many conflicts in Africa, such as those in Sierra Leone, DR Congo, and Mali, are linked to illegal mining. In Nigeria, crude oil theft continues to have a severe impact on the economy and security.
Daily Trust calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action to halt illegal mining and end banditry and kidnapping.
