Dr. Kabir Adamu, a security risk and intelligence specialist, has made a startling claim that his team has identified Nigerian elites who exploit insecurity to mine minerals. As the leader of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, an Abuja-based firm, Adamu advises on security risk management across Nigeria and the Sahel. With a doctorate in strategic security risk management, he has previously headed security and intelligence at the Office of the President of the Senate.
Adamu's assertion is not isolated, as senior officials and researchers have echoed similar concerns. Solid Minerals Minister Dele Alake has stated that powerful illegal miners are linked to bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers, and that highly placed Nigerians are behind some mining-related banditry. Researcher Maurice Ogbonnaya of the Institute for Security Studies has written that collaboration between politically connected Nigerians and Chinese firms in illegal gold mining drives rural banditry and violent local conflicts.
The issue of illegal mining has significant implications for Nigeria, with one estimate suggesting that about 80 percent of mining in the Northwest is illegal. This has led to a surge in banditry and terrorism in areas hit by these activities between 2022 and 2024. President Tinubu has warned of a link between illegal mining and the financing of terrorist activities across Africa, highlighting the need for urgent action to address this problem.
Despite these claims, there have been denials and gaps in enforcement. In February 2026, the Chinese embassy in Nigeria called such allegations "completely baseless" and said China has "zero tolerance" for illegal mining by its companies. While the Mining Marshals have arrested over 350 illegal miners and prosecuted more than 150, there have been no reports of prosecutions of the powerful sponsors Adamu describes.
Industry voices point to structural weaknesses, including porous borders, weak enforcement, and border officials' limited knowledge of minerals. These weaknesses have enabled the smuggling of minerals, with miners seeking stronger border security to curb this problem. The issue has sparked debate over who profits from violence in mineral-rich communities and what can be done to address this problem.
Adamu's claims raise key questions about the identities of these elites, the evidence that exists, and whether this information has been passed to relevant authorities. The public needs to know what actions will be taken to follow the money from mining sites to export routes and what steps will be taken to protect mining communities, whose displacement is part of the business model.
To address this problem, experts recommend that illegal mining be treated as a national security issue, not just a regulatory one. This includes investigating financiers, politicians, and officials who facilitate it, as well as publishing prosecutions and seizures so the public can judge progress. Ultimately, a comprehensive approach is needed to tackle the complex issues surrounding illegal mining in Nigeria.
Key points
- Dr. Kabir Adamu claims his team has identified Nigerian elites exploiting insecurity to mine minerals.
- Illegal mining has surged in Nigeria's Northwest, with an estimated 80 percent of mining being illegal.
- Experts recommend treating illegal mining as a national security issue and investigating financiers and officials who facilitate it.
