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Digging for Gold in Nigeria

Published January 23rd, 2020 - 07:35 GMT

From dawn, before the sun starts to sear the earth, Biltamnu Sani is already hard at work, pounding away at the dusty soil in his perilous quest for gold.

The mineral-rich earth of Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, has provided generations of families with the means to make ends meet.

Never easy, it is a work that today is fraught with danger, from the armed groups that rove the region and from the toxic lead that lurks in its soil.

"I've been doing this since I was 12 years old," Sani, now 26, told AFP.

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A gold miner works underground in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

A gold miner works underground in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

Miners work at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

Miners work at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

A signpost is seen at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

A signpost is seen at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

A miner dumps rocks out of a platic container in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

A miner dumps rocks out of a platic container in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP

A gold miner works underground in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Miners work at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
A signpost is seen at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
A miner dumps rocks out of a platic container in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
A gold miner works underground in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
A gold miner works underground in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Miners work at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Miners work at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
But in recent years their trade has become increasingly unsafe. The mines lie within the reach of heavily-armed groups -- dubbed "bandits" by the local authorities -- that have been terrorising this remote region. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Ayuba Ahmad Muhammed, secretary of the Zamfara State Gold Buyers and Sellers, displays a mined mineral in Gusau, on December 5, 2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
A signpost is seen at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
A signpost is seen at a mining site in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
A miner dumps rocks out of a platic container in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
A miner dumps rocks out of a platic container in Anka near Gusau, on December 4,2019. For generations, the mineral-rich earth of Nigeria's Zamfara state has provided families living here with a way to make ends meet. Kola Sulaimon / AFP
Tags:Zamfara StateNigeria

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