Abstract
ABSTRACT This study presents evidence on the nexus of banditry and illicit gold mining in Nigeria. Drawing on qualitative research, this article explores how bandits leverage gold mining and elites’ collusion to undermine peace. The paper analyses how the elites weaponize access to gold and alter the trajectory of violence. Primary enablers of this phenomenon are historical neglect of the solid mineral sector, patronage, and the co-option of bandits for informal security provision by the elites with vested interest in gold mining. Future research can examine how illicit gold economies interact with formal financial systems, challenging the traditional informality-formality dichotomy in economic theory.
Published Version
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