NACCSO & VOLDI COMMEND NIGERIAN ARMY AND NSCDC MINING MARSHALS OVER ARREST AND HANDOVER OF 18 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL MINERS IN NIGER STATE

NACCSO & VOLDI COMMEND NIGERIAN ARMY AND NSCDC MINING MARSHALS OVER ARREST AND HANDOVER OF 18 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL MINERS IN NIGER STATE

The National Council For Civil Society Organisations – NACCSO and Vision-One Leadership Development Initiative – VOLDI heartily commends the Nigerian Army and the NSCDC Mining Marshals for their exemplary synergy and professionalism in the fight against illegal mining in Nigeria.

We note with satisfaction the arrest of 18 suspected illegal miners by gallant troops of the 102 Guards Battalion at an illegal mining site in Izom, Gurara LGA of Niger State, and the prompt handover of the suspects and recovered exhibits to the NSCDC Mining Marshals Headquarters, Sauka, Abuja for further investigation and prosecution in line with inter-agency protocols.

This development is a clear demonstration of the Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and critical national assets, including our solid mineral resources.

Reacting to the development, the Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, described the collaboration as “exemplary, unprecedented and patriotic.”

Preliminary investigations by the Mining Marshals revealed that the suspects operated without licenses, permits, or affiliation with any registered mining company. Items recovered include motorcycles, pumping machines, crusher engines, communication devices, and cash amounting to ₦2,468,750.

Also speaking, Abdul Ben of the Open Dialogue Initiative praised the HQ Nigerian Army for a professional operation, noting that the intervention has further strengthened efforts to curb illegal mining across the country.

We commend the Nigerian Army for its discipline, patriotism and swift action. This reflects the military’s dedication to the rule of law and national economic security.

We commend the NSCDC Mining Marshals under the leadership of Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi and operational command of ACC John Onoja Attah for their intelligence-driven enforcement and resolve to sanitize the mining sector.

We call on all stakeholders in the solid minerals industry to support the enforcement of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007. Illegal mining is economic sabotage and must be treated as such.

We urge civil society organisations to join in public awareness and community sensitization to expose and report illegal mining activities in their domains.

We are glad that our advocacies against illegal mining are not in vain. We will continue to partner with government and security agencies to ensure transparency, accountability and the protection of Nigeria’s natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations of Nigeria.

We are confident that the suspects currently being processed for prosecution will face the full weight of the law.

Rt. Comrade Emmanuel Johnny
National President