Mad rush into deadly pits for gold: 374 illegal mining sites in 17 states uncovered

•Reports say 156 dead •NASS C’ttee: This is a sophisticated national threat…with implications for security, revenue generation •How it fuels child labour
By Shina Abubakar, Femi Bolaji, Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo, Golok Nanmwa, Jeff Agbodo, James Ogunnaike and Deola Badru
Illegal mining, an economic and environmental offence, has assumed a more troubling dimension in Nigeria, with security agencies, regulators and community leaders increasingly warning that the illicit exploitation of the country’s mineral resources is becoming a national security concern.
In parts of the North-West and North-Central, the activity has intersected with banditry, kidnapping and other forms of organised crime...