Gold Runs Deep, but so Do the Cracks in Nigeria’s Mining Community

In Iperindo, Osun State, the ground shakes each time explosives are detonated at the Segilola Gold Mine, Nigeria’s first large-scale gold mining operation. Owned by Thor Explorations, a company listed on the Toronto and London stock exchanges, the mine has been hailed as a symbol of economic diversification. Yet behind its promise of progress lies a sad reality for residents who live nearby.

This investigation reveals how these mining operations appear to have breached Nigeria’s environmental safety regulations by expanding dangerously close to residential areas, violating the country’s buffer zone requirement.

Drawing on satellite imagery, regulatory documents, company filings, and on-the-ground interviews, the story examines how weak enforcement of environmental laws has allowed profit to take precedence over public safety. The investigation ultimately questions Nigeria’s ability to balance foreign investment and economic growth with the protection of communities living in the shadow of mining operations.