NSCDC Arrests 671 Illegal Miners, Arraigns 397 in Nationwide Crackdown
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 671 suspected illegal miners across the country, with 397 of them already arraigned in court as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining and strengthen governance in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
The Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Attah Onoja, disclosed this on Monday during a stakeholders’ workshop on extractive industry governance held in Abuja. The workshop was organised by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering.
Representing the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, Onoja said the Corps had dismantled several illegal mining sites nationwide, adding that intensified enforcement operations had contributed to improved government revenue generation and increased investor confidence in the mining sector.
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Despite the successes recorded, he identified inadequate logistics, limited manpower, delays in the judicial process and interference by criminal syndicates as major obstacles to effective enforcement.
He called for increased funding, enhanced surveillance capabilities and the establishment of designated courts to expedite the prosecution of mining-related offences.
Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers, Hamza Muhammad, urged the Federal Government to enforce policies requiring minerals to be processed locally before export.
According to him, local mineral beneficiation would create jobs, promote industrialisation and enable Nigeria to derive greater value from its vast mineral resources.
Representing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Fatima Usman-Katsina reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development through a joint technical working group aimed at improving traceability, accountability and coordination across the mining sector.
Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the workshop was convened to identify practical solutions to illegal mining, insecurity and illicit financial flows associated with the extractive industry.
He reiterated the commitment of the House to strengthening the country’s legal framework to reform the mining sector, enhance transparency and attract responsible investment.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering, Hon. Sanni Abdulraheem, called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, regulatory institutions, mining operators and host communities.
He assured participants that the committee’s recommendations would focus on legislative and policy reforms aimed at improving governance, enhancing security and protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources from illegal exploitation.
By PRNigeria
