NSCDC's Mining Marshals Target Illegal Mining Cartels

On Thursday in Abuja, John Onoja, the Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) and Commander of the Mining Marshals at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), committed to dismantling illegal mining cartels and disrupting their financial links to banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism. During a courtesy visit from the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), led by President Odita Sunday, Onoja stated that illegal mining poses significant economic, environmental, and security threats.

He emphasized that disrupting the flow of funds to criminal groups would reduce their operational capacity. The Mining Marshals are adopting intelligence-led operations to identify, arrest, and prosecute offenders, despite facing challenges such as inadequate resources and compromised officials.

Onoja called for media support in accurately reporting on illegal mining and its implications for security, highlighting the need for collaboration to achieve a sanitized mining sector. He noted that corruption among officials is a major obstacle to their efforts.