Interviews with traders in Niger Republic show that the flow of weapons from North Africa to the Sahel parallels the movement of gold from the Sahel to North Africa.
Gold brokers, also known as ‘dealers’, sometimes transport gold ore on behalf of terrorists and deliver the packages to market refiners. In this way, miners say, gold extracted under the control of armed groups passes through the same market lanes as ore dug by ordinary labourers.
In many parts of Zamfara state, proscribed terrorist organisations have moved into mining communities, seizing control of pits, forcing artisanal miners to work for them at gunpoint, and turning what had once been a fragile rural livelihood into the foundation of a violent underground economy.
A policy targeted to boost local processing capacity became a nightmare
This year, The Liberalist will be more intentional about humanising pro-freedom stories than ever before.
Analysts believe scrapping 5% telecom tax by Nigerian President would boost economy.
As herbal prescriptions became popular on social media, so did health experts’ concern about the dangers of self-medication and misinformation.
Claim: President Bola Tinubu ranked as the third most corrupt person in the world, according to the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Verdict:
Misleading headlines falsely portraying Nigeria’s “Nigeria First” policy as a total import ban have fueled widespread misinformation and deepened public distrust.
On proposed completion in 2030, the Great Green Wall is expected to be the largest living structure on the planet, three times the size of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
While over 70 percent of Africans support multi-party elections and presidential term limits, trust in electoral processes has weakened. Only 58 percent believe their most recent election was free and fair, down from 66 percent in 2014, and 48 percent say votes are not counted fairly.
Claim: Armed Fulani militants are burning down already deserted villages in the Mbagwen area of Guma, a local government area in Benue, north-central Nigeria. Verdict:
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Get new insights on pro-freedom issues and current events. Subscribe to ‘Letters of Reasoning’ for weekly expert commentary and fresh perspectives.
