Security forces patrol Yauri town in Kebbi State following clashes linked to illegal gold mining.
Authorities in Kebbi State have imposed a night-time curfew in Yauri town following violent clashes linked to illegal gold mining, amid growing concerns over security in the area.
The Yauri Local Government Council announced the restriction after unrest broke out on Tuesday, night when security operatives intervened to stop the lynching of a suspect accused of killing a gold miner.
Local sources said the intervention angered a group of miners, who later carried out reprisal attacks. Tyres were reportedly set ablaze and a major highway was blocked, disrupting movement and leaving motorists stranded.
Security agencies later dispersed the protesters and restored order.
An eyewitness said the violence connected to mining activities has become frequent in Yauri. The source said two commercial motorcycle riders were found dead earlier in the week, with their deaths suspected to be linked to clashes involving gold miners.
Despite a directive from Kebbi State Governor Dr. Nasir Idris ordering a halt to all mining activities in the area, residents say operations resumed within days of the governor’s visit.
In response to the latest unrest, the local council imposed a curfew from nine o’clock in the evening to six o’clock in the morning.
Officials said the measure is aimed at restoring calm, protecting lives and property, and allowing security agencies to manage the situation effectively.
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Yauri has recorded similar incidents in the past. In September, the council imposed a curfew following violent clashes between youths involved in gold mining in the Garin Katta community.
Elsewhere in northern Nigeria, disputes linked to illegal mining have also turned deadly. In October, clashes between suspected bandits and illegal miners in Kaduna State reportedly claimed seventeen lives.
Concerned by rising insecurity, the Northern Governors’ Forum and the Traditional Rulers’ Council in December called for a six-month suspension of all mining activities across the region. The bodies said illegal mining has become a major driver of violence and urged the federal government to suspend mining operations to allow a comprehensive audit and revalidation of licences.
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