EFFECT OF ILLEGAL MINING ON HUMAN SECURITY IN ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA

Despite the efforts of government, the level of insecurity in Nigeria is still high and the country has been consistently ranked low in the Global Peace Index, signifying poor state of insecurity in the country. A securitization discourse is often used to justify a military-style approach toward illegal mining but fails to acknowledge the multiple dimensions of human insecurity arising from illegal mining. A human security approach allows taking a more holistic perspective but has hardly been applied to the mining sector. Hence, this study investigates the effect of illegal mining on human security in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted and primary data were collected through the use of five-point likert scale questionnaire. The population of the study comprised residents of Anka and Maru local government areas in Zamfara State which is 434,180. The study used the Taro Yamani’s formula to arrive at a sample size of 400 respondents. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the participants from the whole population. The data collected were analysed with simple ordinary least square regression statistical techniques. The results showed that illegal mining have a significant negative effect on human security in Zamfara State. The study concludes that criminal activities such as armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed robbery would continue to prevail in Zamfara State until practical measures are taken to prevent illegal mining activities. The study recommends that the government should take the issue of illegal mining as a national emergency and put in place drastic measures, such as proactive community policing and special task force to put an end to illegal mining.