Friday, August 8, 2025 - The Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have shut down an illegal quarrying site operating within the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Thirteen suspects have been apprehended in connection with
the unlawful activities and have been charged to court, pending formal
arraignment.
The operation, which was carried out as part of ongoing
national efforts to sanitise the mining sector and protect critical national
assets, marks another decisive step in the government’s crackdown on illegal
mining across the country.
According to the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant
Commandant of Corps (ACC) Attah John Onoja, the suspects were found to be
working for a company which had allegedly occupied and exploited a quarry lease
belonging to another licensed mining company for over seven months without
legal backing.
“This operation underscores our commitment to zero tolerance
for illegality in the Nigerian mining sector,” ACC Onoja said. “We will not
allow any individual or company to take the law into their own hands or deprive
legitimate operators of their lawful rights.”
The Mining Marshals, a specialised unit of the NSCDC, were
recently commissioned to tackle the widespread issue of illegal mining in
Nigeria — a menace that has contributed to revenue loss, environmental
degradation, and community conflict in various parts of the country. The unit
has also been tasked with enforcing compliance with mining regulations and
ensuring that all mining activities across the federation are conducted within
the bounds of the law.
The Mining Marshals are motivated by the tacit guidelines of
the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Prof
Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, whose strategic leadership continues to guide the
Corps’ operations in curbing illegalities across critical national sectors.
The shutdown of the Kuje site comes amid rising concerns
over the growing number of unlicensed and unregulated mining operations,
particularly in remote or peri-urban areas where enforcement has been
traditionally weak. The site in question had been operating without proper
documentation, safety protocols, or environmental safeguards, thereby posing a
threat to both the environment and public safety.
Speaking further, ACC Onoja warned all mining operators to
ensure full compliance with existing mining and environmental laws or risk
facing the full weight of the law. “Let this serve as a warning to all illegal
operators. The era of impunity in the mining sector is over. We will continue
to identify, investigate, and prosecute all violators, no matter how remote or
discreet their operations may be,” he said.
The 13 suspects are currently in custody and will be
arraigned in court in the coming days as investigations continue.
0 Comments