Bandits, Illegal Miners Clash Over Gold, 17 Killed in Kaduna

At least 17 people have been killed in violent clashes between criminal gangs and illegal miners over control of a gold site in Kaduna State, according to a confidential security report prepared for the United Nations and obtained by AFP on Friday.

The deadly confrontation occurred on Thursday in Birnin Gwari, one of the flashpoints in northwestern Nigeria plagued for years by banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnapping for ransom.

According to the report, violence erupted when a notorious bandit leader attempted to forcibly extort gold from miners at gunpoint. In retaliation, the miners mobilized and killed the kingpin. His death, however, triggered swift revenge attacks from his armed group, who stormed the mining site and killed seven miners.

Later that day, the bandits attacked Layin Danauta village, killing nine residents, injuring 13 others, and abducting several people while destroying properties.

Birnin Gwari, known for its rich mineral deposits and agricultural activity, had experienced relative peace since the Kaduna State Government brokered a peace accord between local residents and armed groups in November 2024.

However, the recent violence has sparked fears of renewed instability. A resident, Muhammad Kabir, told AFP that the killings have created panic among villagers.

> “We have been enjoying relative peace since the peace deal was signed, but this latest violence risks jeopardizing it,” Kabir said.


The district has witnessed a growing presence of Al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru militants since 2021, who reportedly formed alliances with local bandit groups and imposed strict interpretations of Islamic Sharia law in areas under their control.

While the bandits are largely driven by financial motives, security experts have raised concerns about their growing collaboration with jihadist factions operating in northeastern Nigeria.

The UN security report noted that since the peace accord reduced revenue from kidnappings and levies on farmers, many bandit groups have turned to taxing illegal mining operations as a new source of income.

It warned that the recent clashes could undermine the fragile peace in Birnin Gwari and potentially lead to a “degeneration” of the security situation in the region.