UN, NSCDC partner to tackle illegal mining terror funding

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called for deeper collaboration with Nigeria's Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals following concerns over the increasing links between illegal mining, organised crime, and terrorism in Nigeria, West Africa, and the Sahel region. During a strategic visit to the Mining Marshals Corps, the UNODC delegation, led by the Chief of the Africa Section of the Terrorism Prevention Branch Tullio Santini, praised the corps for its expanding role in tackling illegal mining and related criminal activities.

The delegation commended the Mining Marshals for their enforcement efforts, noting that the increasing number of arrests and prosecutions demonstrated Nigeria's commitment to combating the illicit trade. The UNODC's mission aimed to strengthen partnerships, engage development partners, and review ongoing field operations, with a focus on the introduction of the UNODC Coordination through Operational Networks against the Crime-Terrorism Nexus (CONNECT Initiative).

Nigeria is among the countries invited to participate in this initiative, which is scheduled to launch in November 2026. The Mining Marshals Corps, reporting to the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, and the NSCDC, plays a unique role within Nigeria's security architecture, supporting broader national security operations when required.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.