"Nigeria\u2019s Illegal Gold Trade \u2013 Elites And Bandits Are Working Together"

" Nigeria\u2019s Illegal Gold Trade \u2013 Elites And Bandits Are Working\u00a0Together \r\n\r\nIllegal mining activities in Nigeria are\u00a0 devastating \u00a0the country\u2019s economy, as well as fuelling violence.\r\n\r\nStrategic minerals mined in the country\u2019s north-west region\u00a0 include \u00a0granite, gypsum, kaolin, laterite, limestone, phosphate, potash, silica sand and gold.\r\n\r\nThe\u00a0 Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative \u00a0has estimated that the legal mining sector\u00a0 contributed \u00a0N814.59 billion (US$527 million) in 15 years. Earnings were highest in 2021.\r\n\r\nNigeria\u2019s Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake,\u00a0 asserted \u00a0in late 2024 that powerful individuals engaged in illegal mining were sponsoring banditry in the country. Recently, Edo North senator Adams Oshiomhole also\u00a0 alleged \u00a0that retired military officers coordinated illegal mining activities nationwide.\r\n\r\nIn a\u00a0 recent paper \u00a0I examined the links between banditry, gold mining, violence and elite collusion in two states in the north-west of Nigeria.\r\n\r\nMy research involved qualitative interviews with 17 respondents from 11 gold mining communities of Katsina and Zamfara states. The individuals included miners, community leaders, commercial drivers, residents and security agents.\r\n\r\nThey told me that bandits colluded with elites to engage in illegal gold mining and undermine peace. The paper also analysed how the elites weaponised access to mineral resources and the impact this had on violence in the region. I looked at the state\u2019s response to illegal gold mining too and offered some reflections on pathways to durable peace.\r\n\r\n The history \r\n\r\nMy study shows that for more than four decades, gold mining has been done by wealthy and influential people in communities. Intense competition between the owners of the mine fields led them to hire bandits to guard their mine fields from their competitors.\r\n\r\nThis pattern has become entrenched over the past two decades. My study shows that minefield owners today provide bandits with weapons, arms, drugs, food and logistics. In return, the armed groups protect their gold pits.\r\n\r\nA number of the wealthy mine owners wield influence in local politics. Some research participants also said there were miners who were working for politicians and traditional rulers and that a number of politicians had acquired gold mines.\r\n\r\nInterviewees also said that some individuals were employed by influential figures in government or business. They however did not mention names of the influential government figures for safety reasons.\r\n\r\nViolence arises from competition over mining locations, funding of armed groups\u2019 activities, and taking control from civilians.\r\n\r\nWith access to funds, bandits can expand their influence, recruit new members and carry out attacks.\r\n\r\nAccording to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data I\u00a0 drew on , 1,615 incidents and 4,201 deaths were recorded due to banditry from 2010 to 2023 in Katsina and Zamfara states.\r\n \r\n <img class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649697\/original\/file-20250218-32-61pac7.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w\" \/> \r\n Map of Nigeria showing Katsina and Zamfara states. \u00a0 Source: Authors\u2019 design through Google earth software \r\n How it works \r\n\r\nGenerally, gold trading in Nigeria occurs within a network of buyers, sellers and brokers, forming a small ecosystem compared to other commodities. Most participants in the gold market are familiar with each other.\r\n\r\nMy study respondents said criminals involved in illegal mining had strong connections in the gold market, both domestically and internationally. The transnational supply chain of the illicit economy extends through Chad, Niger, Libya and Algeria.\r\n\r\nForeign networks also\u00a0 operate in the criminal supply chain .\r\n\r\nBandits sell gold to gold merchants and traders. Some of these traders are business elites from other states in Nigeria who typically sell the gold in the Diffa region in Chad, or in Agadez (Niger), Tripoli (Libya) and Algiers (Algeria). Some gold traders transport the mineral to Benin.\r\n\r\n What can be done \r\n\r\nThe government\u2019s handling of the illicit gold trade and banditry has consistently fallen short of what is needed. This is clear from the government\u2019s failure to adequately monitor the actions of miners.\r\n\r\nMining sites are supposed to be overseen by the government, ensuring that only licensed miners and ancillary service providers are active there. But this isn\u2019t happening.\r\n\r\nBased on my findings, I make the following recommendations if there is to be a lasting solution to banditry and the criminal gold mining economy in Nigeria\u2019s north-west.\r\n\r\nFirstly, it requires enforcing the law and strengthening accountability.\r\n\r\nLarge areas of north-west Nigeria are ungoverned. The federal government should enhance border policing and law enforcement capabilities by upgrading security and intelligence gathering infrastructure.\r\n\r\nNigeria should also introduce advanced contraband-detection technologies, such as\u00a0 spectroscopy , at land borders. These techniques analyse the chemical composition of materials. They can identify specific substances and detect trace amounts of contraband.\r\n\r\nAnd individuals with ties to illegal gold trade and supporting criminal activities must be identified, apprehended and prosecuted.\r\n\r\nSecondly, it requires reforming the gold mining and security sector. The mainstay of Nigeria\u2019s economy is oil production in the country\u2019s Niger Delta. One of the consequences is that other sectors of the economy have been largely neglected. The mining sector is not well regulated and the state doesn\u2019t show much interest in it.\r\n\r\nThirdly, any steps taken by the government must involve the participation of people living in the affected communities. The security agencies can foster community partnerships to source human intelligence on the activities of bandits, illegal miners and mineral smugglers.\r\n\r\nLastly, the government should consider tackling elite collusion through targeted sanctions and asset freezing. This could disrupt their ability to finance and perpetuate violence.\r\n\r\nThis approach has been used in\u00a0 Nigeria \u00a0and in\u00a0 South Africa , among other countries in the world."

"Nigeria\u2019s Illegal Gold Trade \u2013 Elites And Bandits Are Working Together"

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