UN, NSCDC move against terror funding, Illegal mining

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has urged greater collaboration between Nigeria's Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals and other law enforcement agencies to combat the growing links between illegal mining, organized crime, and terrorism across Nigeria, West Africa, and the Sahel. During a strategic visit to the NSCDC Mining Marshals Corps, the international body applauded the specialized unit for its expanding role in tackling illegal mining and related criminal activities.

UNODC's Chief of the Africa Section, Tullio Santini, praised the Mining Marshals for their enforcement efforts, highlighting a rise in arrests and prosecutions as evidence of Nigeria's commitment to tackling the illicit trade. A significant focus of the visit was the introduction of the UNODC Coordination through Operational Networks against the Crime-Terrorism Nexus initiative, aimed at strengthening cooperation among governments and law enforcement agencies to disrupt financial and operational links between organized criminal networks and terrorist groups.

The initiative, set to launch in November 2026, will involve law enforcement experts from various countries, including Nigeria. The NSCDC Mining Marshals, representing the NSCDC Commandant-General, praised the UNODC delegation as a critical partner in enhancing the operational capabilities of the unit. The Marshals occupy a unique position within Nigeria's security architecture, reporting to multiple ministries, and primarily focus on suppressing illegal mining activities while supporting broader national security operations as needed.

The growing nexus between illegal mining and terrorism has become increasingly relevant to Nigeria's national security, partly due to the Federal Government's ongoing reforms in the mining sector. The Marshals commander called for expanded capacity-building programs covering terrorism-related concepts, regional intelligence cooperation, and peer-learning opportunities to enhance the unit's ability to tackle evolving threats associated with illicit mining.