Mining States and Violence: The Untold Stories Behind Nigeria's Crisis

A hidden crisis is unfolding in Nigeria’s mineral-rich regions, where illegal mining intersects with armed violence and community displacement. A new report from SBM Intelligence reveals that between January 2019 and April 2025, there have been at least 33 violent incidents linked to illegal mining, resulting in over 218 deaths—particularly affecting states like Zamfara, Niger, and parts of North Central Nigeria. Just recently, a tragic raid on a gold mining site in Zamfara claimed 19 lives, illustrating how mineral wealth can exacerbate insecurity rather than promote prosperity. Illegal mining has become a breeding ground for armed groups and opportunists, inflaming ethnic tensions and displacing vulnerable communities. Yet, amidst the turmoil, the stories of those affected—displaced women, struggling youths, and local miners—often go unheard. We explore the real cost of illegal mining in Nigeria: Who profits, who suffers, and can the cycle of violence be broken? Joining us are David Nwaigwe, an analyst at SBM Intelligence, who tracked these incidents; Ier Ichaver, Co-Founder of the Sesor Empowerment Foundation, which supports displaced individuals; and Manasseh Moses, a local artisanal miner from Zamfara State. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel:    / newscentraltvafrica   for more videos Follow News Central on: Facebook:   / newscentralafrica   Twitter:   / newscentraltv   Instagram:   / newscentraltv   LinkedIn:   / feed   Threads: https://www.threads.net/@newscentraltv TikTok:   / newscentraltv   For more content, go to: https://newscentral.africa #NewsCentral #Nigeria #Politics #AfricaFirst #Africa #News #WestAfrica #ECOWAS #Government #Governance