By Uloma Peace Okorie
Publisher of Daybreak Nigeria and member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Dr Austin Maho, has challenged narratives linking Chinese miners directly to terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, insisting that the nation’s security crisis is rooted in governance failures rather than foreign actors.
In a detailed response to Professor Farooq A. Kperogi’s syndicated article titled “How Chinese Miners Fuel Nigeria’s Terrorist Banditry,” Dr Maho argued that while illegal mining remains a serious concern, blaming Chinese miners for Nigeria’s insecurity oversimplifies a complex national challenge.
According to him, banditry in states such as Zamfara and Niger predates the large-scale presence of Chinese mining companies, noting that insecurity in many communities had already worsened before foreign investors arrived.
He maintained that the real causes of banditry include decades of state neglect, youth unemployment, farmer-herder conflicts, climate pressures, proliferation of arms, and weak institutions.
“Banditry did not begin because of mining activities. Rather, insecurity created ungoverned spaces where different actors—local and foreign—moved in to exploit opportunities,” Dr Maho stated.
The media executive further argued that Chinese nationals have themselves been victims of the same insecurity ravaging mining communities across Nigeria, citing several cases of kidnappings and attacks on Chinese workers in recent years.
He stressed that companies operating in volatile regions often face extortion and coercion from criminal groups, warning against equating payments made under duress with deliberate sponsorship of terrorism.
“Conflating victims of extortion with sponsors of banditry criminalizes those who are themselves suffering from state failure,” he said.
Dr Maho also drew attention to what he described as the often-overlooked role of politically exposed persons and local collaborators in illegal mining operations.
According to him, credible investigations have repeatedly identified politically connected Nigerians, local power brokers, and corrupt officials as major enablers of illicit mining activities.
“In Nigeria’s mining sector, foreigners cannot operate in isolation. Local actors facilitate licenses, security arrangements and community relations. The focus should therefore be on accountability across the entire value chain,” he noted.
He cautioned against ethnic profiling and xenophobic narratives, warning that indiscriminate accusations against Chinese nationals could undermine legitimate foreign investment and strain diplomatic relations.
The Daybreak Nigeria publisher called for comprehensive reforms, including greater transparency in mining licenses, improved traceability of minerals, enhanced security for mining communities, and the formalization of artisanal mining.
He further urged government to tackle unemployment and poverty in affected regions, arguing that economic deprivation remains one of the strongest drivers of banditry.
“Chinese firms that violate Nigerian laws should face sanctions. Nigerian firms and officials who aid illegal activities should also be held accountable. But replacing evidence with scapegoating does not solve Nigeria’s security challenges,” he said.
Dr Maho concluded that restoring state authority, strengthening institutions, and enforcing the rule of law remain the most effective pathways toward ending banditry and transforming Nigeria’s mineral resources into engines of development.
He emphasized that no foreign government or embassy can substitute for effective governance, insisting that lasting peace will come only when the Nigerian state returns “with laws, with force, and with legitimacy.”