• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

      Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

      Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

      PRNigeria logo fearured image

      EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Comptroller General Nigerian Customs Bashir Adewale

      Customs Moves Against 223 Importers in N379bn Permit Breach

      Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

      How Customs is Tightening Borders to Stop Illicit Cash Flows –…

      Customs boss, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi with NAFDAC DG Professor Moji Adeyeye

      Codeine, Tramadol Worth ₦20.5bn Seized as Customs-NAFDAC Cooperation Deepens

      Acting Controller General of Customs, Nigerian Customs Services, NSC, Ag. CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      Adeniyi Inaugurates Lagos School Renovated by Nigeria Customs 

      Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada

      Customs’ Maiwada Named Among Nigeria’s 50 Most Influential PR Voices

  • National
    • Super Falcons wins WAFCON Trophy

      VON Apologizes for Erroneous WAFCON Report, Cites Possible Security Breach, Identifies…

      The recovered AK-47 rifles

      Police Operatives Eliminate 3 Bandits, Recover 10 AK-47 Rifles

      NYSC Corps Members in Camp

      Tinubu to Honours 210 Ex-NYSC Members for Meritorious Services

      PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship 2025 logo

      PRNigeria Opens Application for 2025 Young Communication Fellowship

      NDLEA officials

      NDLEA Arrests Chinese Businessman, 80-Year-Old Grandma in Nationwide Drug Raids 

    • Government
      • NYSC Corps Members in Camp

        Tinubu to Honours 210 Ex-NYSC Members for Meritorious Services

        court Judiciary

        Court Remands TikToker Arrested by DSS for claiming President Tinubu died

        Leon Usigbe

        Tinubu Mourns Veteran State House Correspondent, Leon Usigbe

        Dr. Ibrahim Bello, Emir of Gusau

        Tinubu, NUJ, Police, and Military Mourn the Death of Gusau Emir

        Dr. Ibrahim Bello Emir of Gusau

        His Death is a National Loss – Tinubu Mourns Emir of…

  • Security
    • The recovered AK-47 rifles

      Police Operatives Eliminate 3 Bandits, Recover 10 AK-47 Rifles

      NDLEA officials

      NDLEA Arrests Chinese Businessman, 80-Year-Old Grandma in Nationwide Drug Raids 

      Delegates of IEDPU praises CP Moshood Jimoh

      IEDPU Praises CP Moshood Jimoh of Lagos Police for Exemplary Leadership

      Troops Repel Boko Haram Attack in Gwoza, Recover Firearms

      Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA

      Troops Kill Three Terrorist Leaders in Sokoto Ambush, Recover Weapons

  • Features
    • Leon Usigbe

      Death, you can’t be Proud of this By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem 

      Tinubu’s Plateau Gambit – Yilwatda, 2027, and the Return of the…

      Ozumi and a recipient of a wheelchair

      Wheels of Hope: How a Simple Gift is Reshaping Lives at…

      Late Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and Mansur Liman

      “Buhari: A Blunt, Honest Leader Who Laughed at His Own Predicament”

      Intelligence Synergy: Reshaping Nigeria’s Security Architecture, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

  • State
    • The recovered AK-47 rifles

      Police Operatives Eliminate 3 Bandits, Recover 10 AK-47 Rifles

      NDLEA officials

      NDLEA Arrests Chinese Businessman, 80-Year-Old Grandma in Nationwide Drug Raids 

      Delegates of IEDPU praises CP Moshood Jimoh

      IEDPU Praises CP Moshood Jimoh of Lagos Police for Exemplary Leadership

      Troops Repel Boko Haram Attack in Gwoza, Recover Firearms

      Nigerian Navy Personnel

      Navy Arrests 9 Impostors Operating as Fake Coast Guards in Akwa…

  • Event
    • Super Falcons wins WAFCON Trophy

      VON Apologizes for Erroneous WAFCON Report, Cites Possible Security Breach, Identifies…

      Cross section of participants and guests at the Kaduna State Chapter world PR day

      Kaduna NIPR Urges Students to Embrace Evolving PR Landscape

      Engr. Saleeman Adedoyin Saleeman

      Global IT Leader Saleeman Adedoyin Launches Free Summer School in Ilorin…

      Celestine Achi, AI in PR specialist

      BOOK REVIEW: AI is Reshaping PR—Celestine Achi Shows Us How

      Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ Dies Weeks After PRNigeria Debunked Viral Recovery…

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home Features NSCDC Mining Marshals and the Non-Kinetic Strategy to Combat Illegal Mining By...
  • Features
  • National
  • Security

NSCDC Mining Marshals and the Non-Kinetic Strategy to Combat Illegal Mining By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

By
Abdulahi Haruna Haruspice
-
May 6, 2025

NSCDC Mining Marshals and the Non-Kinetic Strategy to Combat Illegal Mining By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

In a nation richly endowed with natural resources, the irony of poverty amid plenty has become a familiar, if not tragic, narrative. For decades, illegal mining has drained Nigeria of its mineral wealth, degraded the environment, and funded criminal networks. Yet, after years of deploying heavily armed forces and watching the problem mutate rather than disappear, a new, non-kinetic approach has emerged—quietly effective, surprisingly strategic, and worthy of national support. Enter the NSCDC Mining Marshals.

Deployed by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Mining Marshals are an elite unit trained not just in enforcement but in intelligence gathering, stakeholder engagement, and community-based monitoring. Their task is to plug the leak of Nigeria’s solid minerals by addressing the root causes of illegal mining—ignorance, desperation, and a lack of state presence.

This is a marked departure from the traditional kinetic (military-style) operations that have defined Nigeria’s anti-illegal mining response for years. Whereas armed confrontations often trigger clashes and human rights abuses, the Mining Marshals operate with a more civil, nuanced touch—working in collaboration with communities, sensitizing artisanal miners, and partnering with regulatory agencies to restore order and legality to the mining sector.

The results, though not yet perfect, are already speaking. In Zamfara, Niger, and Plateau States—regions previously overrun by illegal mining operations—the Mining Marshals have helped dismantle syndicates, intercepted smuggled minerals, and uncovered hidden tunnels used for illicit extraction. But beyond seizures and arrests, the Marshals have begun reclaiming the trust of communities long neglected or harassed by security forces.

Some of the areas where diplomacy yielded results in Mining Marshals operations include, but are not limited to, Isanlu in Yagba East LGA of Kogi State, Kure community of Kokona LGA in Nasarawa State, and more recently, Damau community in Kubau LGA of Kaduna State. In each of these locations, duly verified licensed miners recovered their sites and commenced lawful mining activities accordingly. These successes underscore the power of non-kinetic engagement in achieving sustainable solutions to complex security and economic problems.

Read Also:

  • VON Apologizes for Erroneous WAFCON Report, Cites Possible Security Breach, Identifies Culprit
  • Police Operatives Eliminate 3 Bandits, Recover 10 AK-47 Rifles
  • Tinubu to Honours 210 Ex-NYSC Members for Meritorious Services

In recent months, the NSCDC has reported a significant drop in illegal mining activity in selected hotspots. Moreover, dozens of informal miners have begun registering with the Ministry of Solid Minerals, a move that increases government revenue and enhances transparency in the sector. This shift is possible because the Marshals, unlike soldiers, do not simply raid and retreat—they stay, engage, and help formalize mining operations.

The brilliance of the Mining Marshals model lies in its sustainability. It reduces reliance on expensive, high-risk military operations and instead builds local partnerships for long-term surveillance and compliance. In a country where state capacity is stretched thin, this cost-effective model can be replicated in other extractive industries facing similar challenges.

Additionally, the non-kinetic strategy aligns with Nigeria’s larger goals of job creation, community development, and environmental sustainability. By focusing on education, regulation, and dialogue, the NSCDC is not just fighting illegal mining—it is reforming the entire mining culture.

Special commendation must go to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, whose forward-thinking leadership has reinvigorated the mining sector with policy clarity and strategic vision. His collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and other enforcement agencies has laid the groundwork for meaningful reform.

Equally deserving of recognition is the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for championing institutional synergy and backing the operational empowerment of the NSCDC. His support has ensured that the Mining Marshals are not just well-equipped, but also professionally grounded in modern civil enforcement ethics.

Above all, profound appreciation is due to the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Audi, mni. Under his watch, the Corps has transformed from a peripheral security agency into a proactive force for national economic security. His insistence on discipline, intelligence-led operations, and community integration is at the heart of the Mining Marshals’ success story.

Equally praiseworthy is the gallant dexterity of the Special Mining Marshals team, led by the selfless and patriotic Commander John Onoja Attah. His leadership has brought renewed energy, tactical precision, and an unwavering commitment to national interest. Under his command, the Marshals have become a symbol of hope and resilience in the fight against economic sabotage.

The NSCDC Mining Marshals represent a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s internal security strategy: a move from guns to governance, from raids to reform. It is a reminder that not all wars are won with bullets. Some are won with strategy, sincerity, and the courage to try something different.

If Nigeria is serious about ending illegal mining and harnessing its mineral wealth for national development, then this innovative, non-kinetic model deserves not just applause—but full institutionalization.

Non-kinetically musing

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Illegal Mining
  • Mining Marshals
  • Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
Previous articleWhat We Must Learn from the Buni Gari Terrorist Attack by Yunusa Bunu Zanna
Next articleNigeria, China Seal Landmark Defence Pact to Boost Local Arms Production
Abdulahi Haruna Haruspice
Abdulahi Haruna Haruspice

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Super Falcons wins WAFCON Trophy

VON Apologizes for Erroneous WAFCON Report, Cites Possible Security Breach, Identifies Culprit

The recovered AK-47 rifles

Police Operatives Eliminate 3 Bandits, Recover 10 AK-47 Rifles

NYSC Corps Members in Camp

Tinubu to Honours 210 Ex-NYSC Members for Meritorious Services

PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship 2025 logo

PRNigeria Opens Application for 2025 Young Communication Fellowship

NDLEA officials

NDLEA Arrests Chinese Businessman, 80-Year-Old Grandma in Nationwide Drug Raids 

Delegates of IEDPU praises CP Moshood Jimoh

IEDPU Praises CP Moshood Jimoh of Lagos Police for Exemplary Leadership

Troops Repel Boko Haram Attack in Gwoza, Recover Firearms

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA

Troops Kill Three Terrorist Leaders in Sokoto Ambush, Recover Weapons

Nigerian Navy Personnel

Navy Arrests 9 Impostors Operating as Fake Coast Guards in Akwa Ibom

Lt. Col (Mrs) Onyechi Appolonia Anele, FSS, anipr

Army Dismisses Allegations of Delayed Promotions, Stagnant Allowances

court Judiciary

Court Remands TikToker Arrested by DSS for claiming President Tinubu died

Leon Usigbe

Death, you can’t be Proud of this By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem 

Recent Posts

  • VON Apologizes for Erroneous WAFCON Report, Cites Possible Security Breach, Identifies Culprit
  • Police Operatives Eliminate 3 Bandits, Recover 10 AK-47 Rifles
  • Tinubu to Honours 210 Ex-NYSC Members for Meritorious Services
  • PRNigeria Opens Application for 2025 Young Communication Fellowship
  • NDLEA Arrests Chinese Businessman, 80-Year-Old Grandma in Nationwide Drug Raids 
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
VON Apologizes for Erroneous WAFCON Report, Cites Possible Security Breach, Identifies CulpritPolice Operatives Eliminate 3 Bandits, Recover 10 AK-47 RiflesTinubu to Honours 210 Ex-NYSC Members for Meritorious ServicesPRNigeria Opens Application for 2025 Young Communication FellowshipNDLEA Arrests Chinese Businessman, 80-Year-Old Grandma in Nationwide Drug Raids IEDPU Praises CP Moshood Jimoh of Lagos Police for Exemplary LeadershipTroops Repel Boko Haram Attack in Gwoza, Recover FirearmsTroops Kill Three Terrorist Leaders in Sokoto Ambush, Recover WeaponsNavy Arrests 9 Impostors Operating as Fake Coast Guards in Akwa IbomArmy Dismisses Allegations of Delayed Promotions, Stagnant AllowancesCourt Remands TikToker Arrested by DSS for claiming President Tinubu diedDeath, you can’t be Proud of this By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem Tinubu Mourns Veteran State House Correspondent, Leon UsigbePolice Arrest 22 Cultists in OgunEnugu Police Raid IPOB/ESN Hideout, Nab 25 Militants, Recover Firearms
X whatsapp