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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Civilians, Governments on the losing end as gold smuggling booms in Africa |
| 2025-12-08 |
| [HUMANGLEMEDIA] Billions of dollars in gold are being smuggled out of distressed parts of Africa, as record demand drives production and lax regulatory frameworks encourage cross-border illicit trades. Nasiru Adamu has a toxic relationship with terrorists operating in Zamfara, a state in northwestern Nigeria. In exchange for protection, he shovels the earth to dig up pieces of gold and gives the terrorists their share. Proud like a peacock, Adamu thinks his shady deal with the criminals terrorising his community brings him peace and gives him some prestige among his associates. “I know most of the gangs and have a relationship with them,” he brags. “Although they have significant control over us and demand more from us than we prefer, we’ve learned to live with them.” Adamu is just one of many young men colluding with terrorists, in desperate search for gold. The relationship is symbiotic, and it is a straightforward trade, he says. “We give them some fraction of the gold we dig, and they give us protection against their fellow criminals, who often come from elsewhere.” While on the mining site in the Miyanchi area of the state, the terrorists would emerge dressed in military camouflage, with their faces shrouded in masks. “They often greet us as we work and ask for cigarettes and Indian hemp to smoke,” Adamu continues. They got so comfortable around each other that the terrorists began to open up about their criminal exploits. They shared accounts of attacks they coordinated with the miners, sometimes showing them bruises from their encounters with security agents and local vigilantes. More at the link Related: Zamfara: 2025-11-18 Nigerian gunmen abduct ‘dozens' of girls from boarding school after killing deputy head teacher in chilling echo of Chibok kidnappings Zamfara: 2025-10-18 Troops Neutralise Dozens of Terrorists, Arrest 62 Suspects, Rescue 30 Victims Zamfara: 2025-09-12 Military Kills 6 Terrorists, Lose 3 Soldiers in Zamfara Ambush - PRNigeria News |
| Posted by:badanov |