By Taibat Ummi Yakubu
What was once largely viewed as an economic crime is rapidly evolving into one of Nigeria’s most complex security challenges.
Across several states, illegal mining is no longer just about the unauthorised extraction of gold, lithium and other valuable minerals. It has become intertwined with banditry, arms trafficking, environmental destruction, violent conflicts, revenue loss and, increasingly, threats to national security.
From the goldfields of Zamfara to the lithium-rich communities of Nasarawa and the mining corridors of Niger, Plateau, Taraba and Kogi, authorities are confronting a growing underground economy worth billions of naira that continues to operate beyond government control.
The concern has become so serious that security agencies, lawmakers and regulators are now warning that illegal mining is no longer merely an environmental or economic offence but a direct threat to national stability.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which oversees the Mining Marshals established to combat illegal mining activities, recently described the practice as a major security threat requiring coordinated intelligence-led operations rather than routine enforcement.
That concern is echoed at the National Assembly, where the House of Representatives Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering has characterised illegal mining as a sophisticated national threat with consequences extending far beyond the mining sector.
According to lawmakers, the problem affects security, governance, environmental sustainability and government revenue generation.
In response, the Federal Government has intensified efforts to curb the menace through arrests, prosecutions, licence revocations and attempts to formalise artisanal mining activities.
The scale of the challenge, however, remains daunting.
Last month, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed that Mining Marshals had identified 374 illegal mining sites nationwide. Of that number, 108 sites were cleared, while 743 suspects were arrested.
The operations also led to 165 prosecutions involving 430 accused persons and the securing of five convictions.
The figures offer a glimpse into the extent of the problem, but officials say the individuals found at mining sites often represent only the visible end of a much larger network.
Investigations have revealed a sophisticated chain stretching from local miners and labourers to financiers, processors, middlemen, mineral buyers and exporters.
Authorities have also repeatedly raised concerns about the involvement of foreign nationals in unauthorised mining operations and illegal mineral trading.
In May 2026, Alake disclosed that more than 327 suspects, including foreign nationals, had been arrested for illegal mining activities, with some cases reportedly involving suspected links to terrorism.
Those particular cases were transferred to the Office of the National Security Adviser for further investigation.
The government has also revoked approximately 3,000 mining licences as part of efforts to clean up the sector and tighten regulatory oversight.
Among the foreign nationals repeatedly linked to recent enforcement actions are Chinese citizens.
In May, Mining Marshals arraigned 15 Chinese nationals and nine Nigerians before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged illegal lithium mining activities in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The issue resurfaced in September when four Chinese nationals were arrested in Maiya’aki, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, over allegations of operating a mining site without valid licences.
Separate court filings by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have also alleged the involvement of Chinese and Nigerian nationals in the illegal extraction, transportation and export of minerals such as mica and lithium.
But the illegal mining crisis varies significantly from one state to another.
Zamfara: Gold, Violence and Banditry
In Zamfara State, illegal gold mining has become deeply entangled with insecurity.
Mining activities are concentrated around Maru, Anka, Bukkuyum, Talata Mafara and Zurmi, where many residents depend on artisanal mining as a source of livelihood.
However, authorities and security analysts have repeatedly expressed concerns about the overlap between unregulated mining operations and armed criminal groups.
Several incidents have highlighted the dangers.
An attack in Gobirawar Chali, Maru Local Government Area, in April 2025 reportedly left at least 19 people dead, while Amnesty International reported a higher casualty figure.
There have also been allegations that armed groups demand protection levies from miners operating in parts of the state, though such claims remain difficult to independently verify.
Beyond insecurity, environmental damage continues to mount as mining activities degrade farmlands, destroy vegetation and contaminate water sources.
Niger: Rich Resources, Growing Concerns
Niger State possesses some of Nigeria’s richest mineral deposits, including gold, iron ore, feldspar, talc, marble, mica, copper and graphite.
Mining activities have spread across areas such as Lapai, Katcha, Kontagora, Shiroro, Rafi, Paikoro and Mariga.
The state recently came under national scrutiny following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in NSCDC custody.
The incident triggered widespread concern and prompted the Federal Government to establish an independent investigative committee to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Meanwhile, authorities have continued enforcement actions, including arrests of foreign nationals and the shutdown of illegal mineral-processing facilities.
Plateau: A Landscape of Tragedies
Few states illustrate the human cost of unregulated mining as starkly as Plateau.
Over the past two years, the state has witnessed a series of mining-related disasters, attacks and accidents that have claimed dozens of lives.
Mining activities remain active in Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Bassa, Wase, Bokkos, Riyom and Mangu.
From mine collapses to toxic gas exposure and violent attacks on mining communities, the cumulative death toll from reported incidents has reached about 90 people.
The alarming trend prompted Governor Caleb Mutfwang to suspend mining activities across all 17 local government areas in February 2025.
Although some operators were later cleared to resume activities under regulated conditions, monitoring remains difficult due to the remote nature of many mining sites and reports of clandestine night operations.
Kogi: Communities Push Back
In Kogi State, concerns over illegal mining have increasingly focused on environmental degradation and the impact on local communities.
Residents and youth groups have accused illegal operators of destroying roads, damaging farmland and contaminating water sources in communities across Ankpa, Omala and surrounding areas.
The state’s significant deposits of coal and other minerals continue to attract both licensed and unlicensed operators, making effective regulation a persistent challenge.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development recently disclosed that Mining Marshals had removed illegal operators from licensed mining areas in Yagba East Local Government Area.
Nasarawa: Nigeria’s Lithium Hotspot
Nasarawa has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most important lithium-producing areas, attracting investors, miners and traders from within and outside the country.
The growing demand for lithium, a key component in battery production, has intensified mining activities across Kokona, Wamba and Nasarawa Eggon local government areas.
The resulting boom has also attracted illegal operators, leading to heightened enforcement activities and increased scrutiny from regulators.
Authorities have additionally raised concerns over worker safety and allegations of child labour in some mining communities.
Taraba: Forests Under Siege
In Taraba State, illegal mining has spread across forests, mountains and rural settlements rich in gold, sapphire, lithium, lead and zinc.
Areas such as Bali, Sardauna, Takum, Gassol, Ardo-Kola and Karim Lamido have experienced sustained illegal mining activities despite repeated government crackdowns.
Security agencies have carried out multiple raids, arresting hundreds of suspects and dismantling illegal camps.
Governor Agbu Kefas has issued several executive orders suspending mining operations since assuming office, including another suspension in June 2026.
Yet the problem persists.
A recent investigation estimated that Taraba could be losing more than ₦10 billion annually to illegal mining activities.
The dangers were again highlighted on September 18, 2026, when five suspected illegal miners died following the collapse of a mining pit in Mayokam, Bali Local Government Area.
A Growing National Challenge
What emerges from these developments is a picture of an industry operating at the intersection of poverty, organised crime, weak regulation and global demand for minerals.
For many rural communities, artisanal mining remains a source of livelihood. For criminal networks, it offers a lucrative source of income. For government, it represents a growing challenge that combines security, environmental and economic risks.
Despite hundreds of arrests, site closures and prosecutions, illegal mining continues to flourish in several parts of the country.
The challenge facing Nigeria is therefore no longer simply how to stop illegal mining, but how to secure mineral-rich communities, protect the environment, create legal opportunities for local miners and dismantle the criminal networks profiting from the country’s vast natural wealth.
As authorities intensify the crackdown, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: the battle over Nigeria’s minerals is no longer just a mining issue—it is a fight over security, governance and the future of communities sitting atop some of the country’s most valuable resources.
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