A report by SBM Intelligence, titled Nigeria Security and Political Economy, covering October 2–8, 2026, and shared with The PUNCH on Monday, linked the growing insecurity to competition over mining revenues and the struggle for control of economically valuable locations.
The report examined the attack on a military base in Bindin, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, which it said stemmed from a dispute between local miners and a gang led by notorious bandit kingpin Muhammad Dankarami over payments demanded for mining activities.
According to the report, tensions escalated after miners allegedly killed a member of the gang, prompting the armed group to launch a retaliatory attack on the military installation and attempt to seize mining pits it regarded as part of its economic territory.
Gwaska reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in an audio message accompanied by photographs. Although the incident was initially attributed to the Lakurawa group, SBM Intelligence noted that the precise relationship between the two groups remained unclear.
The report explained that the groups operate in overlapping areas and sometimes collaborate, despite having different objectives.
Following the attack, the military reportedly withdrew from the base, leaving a security vacuum that prompted residents to blockade the departing convoy.
SBM Intelligence warned that the withdrawal could allow Gwaska’s faction to consolidate its control over the Bindin gold-mining site and surrounding mining corridor while the military reassessed its position. It added that miners and residents in nearby communities could face further insecurity in the short term.
The development highlights the difficulties of protecting mining communities in an area where gold mining provides an important source of income but also attracts armed groups seeking to profit from the trade.
Informal Gold Trade Fuels Security Concerns
Zamfara lies within one of West Africa’s significant gold-bearing belts, where artisanal mining has supported local livelihoods for decades. However, much of the trade operates through informal channels, limiting government revenue and reducing the wider economic benefits available to mining communities.
The Federal Government suspended mining activities in Zamfara in 2019 amid worsening insecurity, before lifting the five-year restriction in December 2024 as part of efforts to revive the sector following reported improvements in security.
Despite the ban, illegal mining reportedly continued, underscoring the difficulties authorities face in enforcing restrictions in communities where gold remains a major source of economic activity.
The state government has also introduced measures aimed at strengthening oversight of the industry. In January 2024, Governor Dauda Lawal prohibited traditional rulers from issuing consent letters for mining activities across the state’s 14 local government areas.
The governor said the practice had contributed to illegal mining and insecurity, reflecting official concerns that mining arrangements operating outside effective regulatory control were undermining efforts to manage the sector.
However, the latest developments suggest that competition over mining sites and the revenue generated from them remains a significant security challenge.
Lakurawa Expands Into Zamfara
Beyond the Bindin attack, the SBM Intelligence report described a broader expansion of armed groups’ influence across Zamfara, where rival factions compete for territory, extortion routes and control of economic activities.
Lakurawa, which has traditionally operated in parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states, has expanded into areas of Zamfara, including Shinkafi, Maradun and Tsafe, according to the report.
The group has reportedly established what it calls a “Dawla”, or governing structure, in some locations, while absorbing or co-opting certain bandit factions and taking over their camps.
Such developments, the report suggested, point to an evolving security landscape in which armed groups are seeking more than temporary access to rural communities. Their activities increasingly involve establishing territorial influence and controlling sources of income.
The competition among factions has heightened concerns that mining communities could become vulnerable to extortion, forced payments and retaliatory attacks as groups attempt to maintain or expand their influence.
Highway Kidnappings Threaten Trade and Transport
The report also highlighted insecurity along the Goronyo-Sokoto Road, where bandits reportedly blocked the highway and abducted passengers.
SBM Intelligence linked the incident to the financial incentives associated with highway kidnappings, warning that repeated attacks along the corridor could disrupt transport and logistics.
Transport operators may face increased costs as they seek safer routes or encounter illegal checkpoints, while businesses and communities could bear the consequences of delays, insecurity and higher transportation charges.
The report noted that attacks on major roads could further weaken economic activity in affected areas, particularly where farmers and traders depend on reliable transport to move goods and reach markets.
Rival Bandit Clashes Raise Fears of Reprisals
In another incident in Zamfara, bandit kingpin Kachalla Mu’azu and six members of his gang were reportedly killed during a clash with a rival armed group around Mada in Gusau Local Government Area.
SBM Intelligence warned that the killings could trigger retaliatory attacks and further fragmentation among armed factions, potentially increasing the risk of kidnappings and extortion against farming communities.
The concerns are particularly significant during the harvest season, when farmers need access to their fields, rural roads and markets to transport agricultural produce and earn income.
Further clashes could disrupt farming activities, expose residents to attacks and deepen the economic difficulties already facing communities affected by insecurity.
The report stressed the importance of sustained security operations and efforts to dismantle armed groups’ bases to prevent further violence from undermining economic activities across affected communities.
As competition for gold-mining sites and other sources of revenue continues, the security situation in Zamfara presents a challenge not only for law enforcement agencies but also for efforts to formalise mining, protect rural livelihoods and ensure that the state’s mineral resources contribute to legitimate economic development.