September 4, 2023 NEWS In Kakanfu, Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, hundreds of illegal miners with hard drugs, guns and explosives dig underground in a large-scale search for Lithium with no oversight and few safety measures. Security operatives and local authorities take bribes to turn a blind eye to – and also |
Once a tranquil agrarian community, Kakanfu in Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State had thrived for generations as its farmers cultivated fertile lands. They planted all types of crops and reaped the bounty of their toil. But the serenity of this small village was shattered when the earth beneath it unveiled a hidden secret a massive deposit of high-grade lithium.
The day was Monday, and the early morning sky was shrouded in a thick blanket of gray clouds. Raindrops fell steadily, creating a rhythmic symphony as they danced upon the borderlands between Kenu, Nigeria and Kabo, Benin Republic. It was a fitting backdrop for any daring adventure. Hundreds of motorcycles roared to life in Kenu, their engines reverberating through the air. Their riders aged between 16 to 25, with a shared purpose burning in their eyes, set off with determined speed. They all shared a single mission: to smuggle rice into Nigeria from neighbouring Benin Republic.