UNODC Collaborates with NSCDC to Combat Terror Funding

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has urged deeper collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals to address the growing connections between illegal mining, organized crime, and terrorism in Nigeria and the Sahel region. This call was made during a strategic visit by a UNODC delegation, led by Tullio Santini, Chief of the Africa Section of the Terrorism Prevention Branch, who commended the Mining Marshals for their enforcement efforts.

Assistant Commandant of Corps, John Attah, representing NSCDC Commandant-General Prof Ahmed Audi, welcomed the delegation and highlighted the importance of previous UNODC-supported training programs in enhancing collaboration with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. The meeting focused on the introduction of the CONNECT Initiative, aimed at strengthening cooperation among governments to disrupt financial links between criminal networks and terrorist groups, with Nigeria set to participate in its launch scheduled for November 2026.