NSCDC commander vows to sustain crackdown on illegal miners

John Onoja, the Commander of the Mining Marshals within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, has declared his intention to continue efforts to dismantle illegal mining operations and disrupt illicit financial flows connected to banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism. Onoja made these remarks on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja.

He emphasized that the mining marshals would remain steadfast in enforcing mining regulations and restoring legitimacy to the sector, which he acknowledged has become increasingly intertwined with security concerns. Illegal mining, he explained, is not merely an economic issue or an environmental problem. He pointed out that the profits generated from illicit mining activities can serve as funding for criminal and terrorist organizations.

Onoja highlighted that the disruption of illicit funds to these groups would diminish their operational capabilities and lessen the allure of engaging in banditry and terrorism. To achieve this, he said, the Mining Marshals have implemented intelligence-driven operations, involving the identification, arrest, investigation, and prosecution of offenders to ensure that perpetrators face legal consequences.

He also stated that the command would maintain a presence in mining communities as part of its deterrent strategy, despite facing challenges related to manpower and logistics. The commander appealed to the media to contribute to the anti-illegal mining campaign by providing accurate, responsible, and continuous reporting on the activities of illegal miners and their security implications.

He stressed that the sanitized mining sector they aspire to achieve will only be possible through collaboration, with the media being a major stakeholder in this effort. Onoja further urged journalists to evaluate the performance of the Mining Marshals based on the resources available to them, highlighting that inadequate logistics remain a significant obstacle.

Earlier, the leader of the team, Odita Sunday, stated that journalists recognized the critical security and economic implications of illegal mining. The Mining Marshals were established on March 21, 2024, as a specialized NSCDC operation aimed at combating illegal mining and safeguarding Nigeria's essential mineral resources.