NSCDC arrests 671 suspected illegal miners

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has said its Mining Marshals have arrested 671 suspected illegal miners across the country.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, said 397 of the suspects had already been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Onoja disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while representing the Commandant-General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Audi, at a stakeholders’ workshop on extractive industries governance organised by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering.

He said the Mining Marshals had dismantled several illegal mining sites, shut down unlawful operations, confiscated mining equipment and restored a number of mining sites to their legitimate licence holders.

He attributed the achievements to the professionalism of the Mining Marshals, strong inter-agency collaboration and sustained support from the Federal Government.

“We have arrested no fewer than 671 suspected illegal miners, while 397 have already been charged before the Federal High Court. We have also secured several convictions as part of the ongoing enforcement against illegal mining,” he said.

According to him, the renewed enforcement campaign has improved compliance with mining regulations and contributed to a significant increase in government revenue from the solid minerals sector.

Quoting data from the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Onoja said revenue from the sector rose by 337 per cent between 2023 and 2026.

“Revenue increased from about ₦6bn in 2023 to over ₦70bn by June 2026. This reflects the impact of the Federal Government’s reforms and strengthened enforcement in the mining sector,” he said.

The Mining Marshals commander commended the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, for driving reforms in the sector, describing his appointment as “a watershed moment for Nigeria’s mining industry.”

He also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Nigerian Armed Forces and the leadership of the NSCDC Commandant-General, whom he credited with transforming the Mining Marshals into an effective force against illegal mining.

Onoja, however, identified inadequate logistics, a shortage of personnel and weapons, judicial delays, interference by vested interests and poor community cooperation as major challenges confronting the unit.

He called for increased budgetary allocation, the deployment of surveillance technology, the establishment of a national mining intelligence situation room and the designation of special Federal High Court judges to fast-track illegal mining cases.

“Addressing these challenges will further strengthen enforcement, enhance investor confidence and protect Nigeria’s mineral resources from criminal exploitation,” he said.

He reaffirmed the NSCDC’s commitment to protecting the nation’s extractive assets in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying a secure mining sector would boost government revenue, create jobs and reduce funding for criminal activities.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers, Hamza Muhammad, urged the Federal Government to make local processing of minerals compulsory before export.

“Value addition through local processing will create jobs, accelerate industrialisation and enable Nigeria to derive greater economic benefits from its abundant mineral resources,” he said.

Also speaking, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, represented by Fatima Usman-Katsina, reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development through a joint technical working group to improve traceability, accountability and coordination across the mining value chain.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the workshop was convened to develop practical solutions to illegal mining, insecurity and illicit financial flows.

He reiterated the House’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s legal framework to reform the mining sector, improve governance and attract responsible investment.

The Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering, Sanni Abdulraheem, called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, regulators, mining operators and host communities.

He assured participants that the committee’s recommendations would focus on legislative and policy reforms aimed at strengthening governance, curbing illegal mining and protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources.