The Nexus Between Mining and Violence in North-Central and North-West Nigeria

In North-Central and North-West Nigeria, the expansion of mining is increasingly intersecting with complex patterns of insecurity. This report explores how informal mining economies and competition for mineral-rich land drive fragility, while also identifying the potential for mining to serve as a stabilizing force under the right governance conditions

This study, commissioned by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme, investigates the scale and nature of mining operations in Benue, Plateau, and Kaduna States. It moves beyond simplistic narratives to examine mining as a socio-political phenomenon embedded in histories of marginalization and weak state oversight. While violence linked to mining is often sporadic, the report identifies recurring early warning signs of more systematic conflict as powerful stakeholders and criminal actors expand their influence.