Mining Marshals Target Illegal Miners’ Money Trail
Illegal mining is no longer just a battle over Nigeria’s mineral wealth; security authorities are increasingly targeting the money it generates for criminal networks.
Commander of the Mining Marshals, NSCDC, Mr John Attah Onoja, says the operation will intensify efforts to dismantle illegal mining cartels and disrupt illicit financing linked to banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.
Onoja spoke in Abuja when the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), led by its President, Odita Sunday, paid a courtesy visit to his office.
He said intelligence-led operations would focus on identifying, arresting, investigating and prosecuting offenders, while the Marshals maintain a presence in mining communities despite manpower and logistics challenges.
“We want to make criminality less lucrative,” Onoja said, stressing that cutting off illicit funds would weaken criminal groups.
He identified alleged collusion between compromised officials and illegal miners as a major obstacle, describing attempts to frustrate enforcement as “corruption fighting back”.
Onoja also sought stronger media support, saying sustained and accurate reporting was crucial to exposing the security dimensions of illegal mining.
DECAN President Odita pledged professional coverage of the campaign and urged regular briefings between journalists and the Mining Marshals to curb misinformation without compromising operational security.
The Mining Marshals was established by the NSCDC in March 2024 to combat illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s mineral resources.
