As violence escalates in Kaiama, illicit mining operations flourish in the Kwara town.

Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State has recently gained notoriety due to a surge in terror activities, with numerous kidnappings and loss of life reported in the area.

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The town of Bani, located in Kaiama, was once a quiet community, but it has since become a hub for unlicensed miners seeking to capitalize on the growing global demand for lithium, a key mineral in the transition to renewable energy.

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Mining activities in Bani are reported to have begun approximately three years ago, initially marked by violent clashes between non-Yoruba-speaking miners and Yoruba transporters, but these tensions have since subsided as the groups now work together to maximize profits.

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An anonymous illegal miner explained that the newfound cooperation among miners is driven by the desire to earn money from buyers, stating, "That is no longer the case, all of us are working together now because fighting will not allow us to get money from buyers."

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Once extracted, the lithium ore is typically transported to locations in Sagamu, Ogun State, and sometimes Lagos, with the transportation cost for a 50-kilogram bag ranging between N1.5 million to N1.9 million, according to an Ilorin-based indigene of Bani who owns two trucks.

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Before transportation, each consignment is marked to indicate the receiving agent and collection center, and the miners claim to have "permits" that protect them from legal action, allegedly issued by compromised security operatives.

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The Kwara State Government has confirmed that mining in the area is unlicensed, and when asked about the risk of arrests by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an illegal miner stated, "We have never been arrested because we collect permits."

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Mohammed Ibrahim, an illegal miner from Kebbi State, revealed that the miners use a dedicated WhatsApp group to coordinate their activities, linking drivers with buyers and sellers, and discussing permits and security payments.

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Despite occasional arrests and seizures by government authorities, the illegal mining trade continues to thrive, driven by high demand for green minerals like lithium, with drivers like Ibrahim Aliu confident that their "permits" will protect them from legal repercussions.

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An illegal miner explained that the permit is not official and only lasts for a single trip, costing between N20,000 to N30,000, and that security officials will stamp a paper with the date, allowing them to pass through checkpoints without issue.

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However, the Spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara State, Michael Ayoola, denied that the corps grants permits to illegal miners, stating, "We don’t have business with illegal miners, we are all out to arrest them."

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A security source revealed that the Federal Ministry of Mines and Development is responsible for granting permits to miners, and a senior NSCDC official stated that miners often provide gratification to security officials to protect them from hoodlums and ensure a successful operation.

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Illegal miners in Bani operate with impunity, with their activities well-known to local collaborators, including young locals who work at collection centers and truck owners who facilitate the transport of the ore.

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The trade in lithium ore, known as "Konsa" in Bani, is conducted both covertly and openly, with dealers storing bags of ore sourced from Bani and nearby communities like Daba, another area known for its illegal mining sites.

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Loaded trucks carrying critical minerals often travel through Bani under the cover of darkness, evading law enforcement scrutiny, with the financial loss to the government estimated to be immense, as a ton of lithium sells for over $70,000.

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Despite government crackdowns, illegal mining continues to thrive in the state, driven by high demand for minerals, with terrorists not posing a significant threat to the miners, who are more concerned with maximizing profits.

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A dealer, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, "The financial loss is immense, a ton of lithium sells for over $70,000, yet hundreds of trucks of lithium are illegally moved out of the state without record."

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Driver Kokoma Ahmed, who transports miners from Ilorin to Bani, reported that he has not experienced any challenges or terrorist attacks, and another truck driver, Segun Alolade, revealed that Chinese buyers provide villagers with money to procure minerals.

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Alolade explained that the transportation cost ranges between N1.9 million and N2.3 million, depending on the road conditions, and that compromised security operatives enable the transportation of minerals in exchange for "ground commissions".

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Ibrahim Farouk, a dealer, confirmed that the illegal mining business has not been disturbed by the state of insecurity in the area, stating, "We have been going on with our work there without any interference."

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Community leader Alh Mohammed Abdulazeez argued that banning mining will not stop terrorism in Nigeria, suggesting that the federal government should instead streamline mining operations with adequate security provisions to maximize benefits.

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It is believed that some terrorists have fronts engaging in mining, with sources suggesting that the reason for the undisturbed continuation of illegal activities is the involvement of terrorists who have agents conducting the mining business.

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A series of brutal attacks were carried out by terrorists in the Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama early last month, resulting in a high death toll, with reports suggesting over 100 to 170 people were killed, and many bodies buried in mass graves.

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A video released late last month showed women and children, victims of the Kaiama abductions, pleading for rescue, with the terrorists demanding a ransom before release.

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Despite the insecurity, illegal mining activities continue in the area, with farmers lamenting the socio-ecological consequences, including the loss of farmlands to miners, who often expand their activities into agricultural areas.

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A distraught farmer explained that once mining activities start near their farms, they can no longer work, stating, "Even when we get to the farm early, once the miners come and start their mining, we can no longer farm."