Artisanal Mining And Banditry Activities In Taraba State, Nigeria, 2015- 2024

Abstract

This study examines the nexus between artisanal mining and the rise of banditry in Taraba State, Nigeria, from 2015 to 2024. The objectives of the study were to examine the nature, and drivers of artisanal mining activities in Taraba State between 2015 and 2024 and assess how weak or ineffective regulation of artisanal mining has contributed to the rise of banditry and insecurity in Taraba State. Qualitative method was employed across six mining-prone Local Government Areas. The study is anchored on State Fragility Theory. The study revealed nature and character of artisanal mining activities to include poverty, unemployment, and agricultural decline, which push communities into informal mineral extraction for survival. The findings also revealed that weak regulatory enforcement stemming from institutional incapacity, logistical constraints, and systemic corruption has created a governance vacuum in mineral-rich zones. This vacuum allows artisanal mining sites to become hotspots for criminal exploitation, financing armed groups and fueling violent competition over resources. The study documents how banditry, kidnapping, and arms smuggling have proliferated as a direct consequence of this ungoverned, lucrative informal economy. Despite state interventions, including Executive Order No. 5 (2023) and security task forces, effectiveness remains limited by internal sabotage, poor funding, and inadequate equipment. The research concludes that the link between artisanal mining and insecurity in Taraba is a symptom of broader state fragility, where governance failures permit illicit economies to thrive, eroding state authority and community safety. To address this, the study recommends an integrated policy response combining strengthened, coordinated regulatory and security mechanisms with sustainable livelihood alternatives to provide economic resilience and reduce dependency on illegal mining.