Gold miners in Zamfara State are facing growing insecurity as armed groups allegedly demand levies on mining activities and seek control of mineral-rich areas, threatening livelihoods and economic activity.
The development was highlighted in a report titled Nigeria Security and Political Economy, covering October 2–8, 2026, published by SBM Intelligence and shared with The PUNCH on Monday.
The report linked an attack on a military base in Bindin, Maru Local Government Area, to a dispute between local miners and a gang led by bandit kingpin Muhammad Dankarami over payments for mining activities.
According to the report, tensions escalated after miners allegedly killed a gang member, prompting the armed group to attack the military base in retaliation and attempt to seize mining pits it considered part of its economic territory.
The report said Gwaska claimed responsibility for the attack in an audio message accompanied by photographs. The incident was initially attributed to the Lakurawa group, although the relationship between the two groups remained unclear.
SBM Intelligence noted that the groups operate in overlapping areas and sometimes collaborate but have different objectives.
The military subsequently withdrew from the base, according to the report, creating a security vacuum. Residents reportedly blockaded the departing military convoy.
The report warned that Gwaska’s group could strengthen its control over the Bindin gold-mining site and surrounding areas while the military reassessed its position. It said miners and nearby communities could face further insecurity in the short term.
Zamfara lies within a major West African gold-bearing belt, where artisanal mining has supported livelihoods for decades. However, much of the trade operates through informal channels, limiting government revenue and the economic benefits available to mining communities.
The Federal Government suspended mining activities in Zamfara in 2019 over insecurity before lifting the five-year restriction in December 2024, citing improved security and plans to revive the sector. Illegal mining reportedly continued during the suspension, highlighting the difficulty of enforcing restrictions in economically dependent communities.
In January 2024, Governor Dauda Lawal prohibited traditional rulers from issuing consent letters for mining across the state’s 14 local government areas. The measure was intended to address concerns that such arrangements contributed to illegal mining and insecurity.
Beyond Bindin, the SBM Intelligence report described growing competition among armed groups for territory, extortion routes and control of economic activities across Zamfara.
It said Lakurawa, which has traditionally operated in parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states, had expanded into areas of Zamfara, including Shinkafi, Maradun and Tsafe.
According to the report, the group had established what it calls a “Dawla”, or governing structure, in some locations and had absorbed or co-opted some bandit factions while taking over their camps.
The report also identified insecurity along the Goronyo-Sokoto Road as a threat to transport and logistics.
Bandits reportedly blocked the road and abducted passengers, with SBM Intelligence linking the incident to the financial incentives associated with highway kidnappings.
It warned that repeated attacks could increase transportation costs as operators sought safer routes or encountered illegal checkpoints.
In a separate incident, bandit kingpin Kachalla Mu’azu and six members of his gang were reportedly killed in a clash with a rival armed group around Mada in Gusau Local Government Area.
SBM Intelligence warned that the killings could trigger reprisals and further fragmentation among armed groups, increasing the risk of kidnappings and extortion targeting farming communities during the harvest season.
The report called for sustained security operations and efforts to dismantle armed groups’ bases to prevent further violence from disrupting mining, transport, farming and other economic activities across affected communities.
