Insecurity: Illegal Miners Are In Cahoot With Bandits, So Suspension Of These Mining Would Help–Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has called for urgent collective action to tackle banditry across northern Nigeria, emphasizing that a nation of over 230 million people should not be held hostage by a few thousand armed groups. His comments were made during a televised interview on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, reported by Leadership.

Sani urged northern political and traditional leaders to approach the crisis with sincerity, noting that banditry has become a deeply rooted internal problem requiring coordinated regional strategies. He highlighted the recent establishment of the Northern Security Trust Fund as a step in the right direction, enabling leaders to mobilize resources, strengthen security strategies, and support operatives combating violent groups.

Addressing the link between illegal mining and criminal activity, Sani explained that many mining sites overlap with territories controlled by bandits, providing them with financial gains, intelligence, and logistical support. “Illegal miners are in cahoot with bandits, so suspension of these mining would help, but not in all ways. Most of the places where these mining activities are taking place are the places where the bandits operate,” he said.

He stressed that combating illegal mining requires strict enforcement, economic monitoring, and collaboration between state governments and security agencies. By restricting these operations and tracking mineral supply chains, authorities could gradually cut off resources that fund weapons, recruitment, and criminal expansion.

Sani also emphasized the importance of community involvement, traditional institutions, and local stakeholders who understand the terrain and the behavior of criminal groups. He warned that without collective responsibility from northern leaders, national-level initiatives may not achieve the desired impact on insecurity.
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