NSCDC UNLEASHES MINING MARSHALS ACROSS SEVEN (7) ZONES, DECLARES WAR ON ILLEGAL MINING OPERATORS

In a deliberate effort to further strengthen enforcement activities within the solid minerals sector and enhance operational presence nationwide, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), under the pragmatic and dynamic leadership of the Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, has decentralized mining enforcement operations and formally deployed specially trained Mining Marshals across seven (7) operational zones in the country.

As part of this strategic intervention, the Corps has also commissioned ten (10) operational vehicles to support the field activities of the Mining Marshals. These vehicles, built for rugged terrain and rapid deployment, will aid surveillance, intelligence-led patrols, and tactical enforcement against illegal mining activities.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja, the Commandant General described the decentralization as a bold operational reform aimed at bringing enforcement closer to identified mining hotspots and empowering regional response teams for greater effectiveness.

“With the deployment of Mining Marshals to all seven zones, we are scaling up our capacity to confront illegal mining operations head-on. These officers have been equipped and trained to engage professionally and lawfully in protecting our solid mineral assets from economic saboteurs,” Professor Audi stated.

He further noted that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda and supports the Corps’ statutory mandate to safeguard critical national assets and infrastructure.

The Corps calls on all stakeholders in the mining sector — including host communities, licensed operators, and regulatory agencies — to cooperate fully with the Mining Marshals in their respective zones and promptly report any suspicious activity to the nearest NSCDC office.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps remains unwavering in its commitment to promoting lawful mining practices, preserving the environment, and combating the illegal exploitation of the nation’s mineral resources.

Signed:

CSC Babawale Afolabi

National Public Relations Officer

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

Headquarters, Abuja