NSCDC condemns rising illegal mining and urges offenders to stop.

Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the Commandant‑General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), condemned the growing incidence of illegal mining across Nigeria and urged those involved to stop their activities before they cause further harm.

During a visit by officials from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Canadian donors to the NSCDC headquarters on Friday, the commander of the Mining Marshals Corps, Attah Onoja, spoke on behalf of the Commandant‑General. He said that illegal mining had evolved from a mere economic offence into a serious security threat that demands coordinated, intelligence‑driven action.

“Illegal mining is no longer just an economic crime. It has grown into a major national security threat that requires intelligence‑driven and coordinated enforcement,” he stated.

Onoja praised the UNODC and the Canadian government for backing the project titled “Strengthening Nigeria’s Response to Criminal and Terrorist Finance related to Minerals.” He added that the partnership has bolstered the operational and investigative capabilities of officers tackling mineral‑related crimes nationwide.

The Mining Marshals Corps was created to safeguard Nigeria’s mineral resources and enforce mining laws. Its specialised units handle intelligence gathering, field operations, legal services, enforcement, and community outreach.

“Our mandate includes protecting the nation’s mineral resources, preventing illegal mining and prosecuting offenders involved in illegal mineral exploitation,” he said.

He revealed that collaboration between the NSCDC and UNODC began in 2025, with training programmes and consultations funded by Global Affairs Canada.

In November 2025, 21 officers completed a terrorism‑financing investigations training, which he described as essential for enhancing investigations into organised crime, terrorism financing and illegal mining activities.

Onoja noted that specialised units have since been deployed to illegal mining hotspots in the North‑West and North‑Central regions. Joint operations with other agencies have led to the dismantling of several illegal mining camps and the arrest of suspects.