NSCDC arrests 671 suspected illegal miners, arraigns 397

By Imisioluwa Afunmiso

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 671 suspected illegal miners across the country as part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining and protect the nation’s solid mineral resources.

The Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja 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.

Onoja, who represented the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Audi, said 397 of the suspects had already been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja, while several convictions had also been secured.

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

“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,” Onoja said.

According to him, the successes recorded by the Mining Marshals were driven by professionalism, strong inter-agency collaboration and sustained support from the Federal Government.

He noted that the renewed enforcement campaign had improved compliance with mining regulations and contributed to a significant rise in government revenue from the solid minerals sector.

Quoting figures from the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Onoja said revenue generated from the sector increased by 337 per cent between 2023 and June 2026, rising from about ₦6 billion in 2023 to over ₦70 billion.

He attributed the growth to reforms introduced by the Federal Government and strengthened enforcement against illegal mining.

The Mining Marshals commander commended the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, for what he described as transformative reforms in the mining sector. He also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Nigerian Armed Forces and the NSCDC leadership.

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

He called for increased funding, deployment of surveillance technology, establishment of a national mining intelligence situation room and the designation of special Federal High Court judges to accelerate the prosecution of illegal mining cases.

According to him, addressing the identified challenges will strengthen enforcement, boost investor confidence and safeguard Nigeria’s mineral resources from criminal exploitation.

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

Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers, Hamza Muhammad, urged the Federal Government to make local processing of minerals compulsory before export, saying value addition would create jobs and accelerate industrialisation.

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

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the workshop was aimed at developing practical solutions to illegal mining, insecurity and illicit financial flows, while reiterating the House’s commitment to strengthening the legal framework governing the mining sector.

Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering, Sanni Abdulraheem, also called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, regulators, mining operators and host communities, assuring that the committee’s recommendations would focus on legislative and policy reforms to strengthen governance and curb illegal mining.