NSCDC Commander Calls to Cut Funding for Terrorism

ACC John Attah Onoja, the Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals, stated that the government and stakeholders must prioritize cutting off funding sources to terrorists and bandits to reduce their operational capacity. During a courtesy visit from the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) in Abuja, Onoja vowed to dismantle illegal mining cartels that contribute to financing criminal activities such as banditry and terrorism.

He highlighted that illegal mining poses economic and environmental threats and is a potential funding source for these groups. Onoja emphasized the importance of disrupting illicit financial flows to make criminality less lucrative.

He also mentioned the need for intelligence-led operations to identify and prosecute offenders while maintaining a presence in mining communities. Furthermore, he called for media support in reporting on illegal mining and acknowledged the challenge posed by compromised officials colluding with illegal miners, which hampers efforts to sanitize the sector.