The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) announced that its specialized Mining Marshals have taken 671 individuals into custody for suspected illegal mining activities. Of those detained, 397 have been brought before the Federal High Court, with several convictions already finalized as part of the federal government’s campaign against illicit extraction.
ACC Attah John Onoja, commander of the Mining Marshals, shared these updates in Abuja on behalf of Commandant-General Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi. Since their creation in 2024, the Marshals have dismantled multiple unauthorized sites, confiscated machinery, and returned land to legal license owners.
Onoja linked the success of these operations to high professional standards and inter-agency cooperation. He noted that these efforts have enhanced regulatory compliance and bolstered national revenue. Citing data from the Solid Minerals Development Fund, he reported that mining sector earnings surged by 337 percent, rising from N6 billion in 2023 to more than N70 billion by June 2026.
To sustain this progress, officials are advocating for advanced surveillance tools, a centralized intelligence center, and dedicated judges to speed up court proceedings. Meanwhile, House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and committee chairman Sanni Abdulraheem have urged stakeholders to pursue stronger cooperation to curb insecurity and financial misconduct within the industry.
