Influence Operations Key to Securing Nigeria’s Mineral Resources — ACC Attah
The Commander of the Mining Marshals under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, has said that strategic influence operations are now central to the success of security efforts in protecting Nigeria’s vast mineral resources.
He made the remarks in Abuja during the Defence Headquarters’ Psychological Operations Workshop, where he joined other senior military and paramilitary officers for a week-long engagement on non-kinetic strategies in modern security operations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, ACC Attah noted that psychological and influence-based tactics have become critical tools in addressing illegal mining, terrorism-linked resource theft, and community resistance in mining host areas.
“In mining security and beyond, the ability to influence perceptions, manage narratives, and unify purpose across diverse commands is pivotal to mission success,” he said.
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“This aligns with the strategic master plan of our Commandant General, Dr Abubakar Ahmed Audi, which prioritises multi-dimensional approaches to safeguarding Nigeria’s mineral assets.”
The workshop, themed “Defence Headquarters Influence Operations: Optimizing Psychological Operations for Efficiency within a Joint Environment”, aimed to enhance inter-agency collaboration and capacity in non-kinetic warfare.
Attah’s presence at the elite training reflects a wider shift in security thinking, as the NSCDC’s Mining Marshals take on increasing responsibility in tackling criminal activities tied to the extractive sector.
Officials from the Defence Headquarters described the workshop as timely, especially given the complex security landscape where information warfare, public trust, and perception management are becoming decisive fronts in national defence.
The event concluded with a joint resolution by participating agencies to deepen integration of psychological operations into fieldwork and improve synergy in both traditional and emerging theatres of engagement.
