NSCDC Deploys Mining Marshals Nationwide, Vows Crackdown on Illegal Operators

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has officially launched a nationwide deployment of specially trained Mining Marshals across seven operational zones, in a renewed effort to intensify enforcements against illegal mining activities and bolster the protection of the country’s solid minerals.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, CSC Babawale Afolabi, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, includes the decentralization of mining enforcement duties and the commissioning of ten rugged operational vehicles to support field operations. According to the statement, the vehicles are designed for use in difficult terrains and will assist with surveillance, intelligence-driven patrols, and rapid tactical interventions.

During a commissioning event at the NSCDC National Headquarters, the Commandant General described the move as a bold step in overhauling operational efficiency and ensuring that enforcement reaches the most vulnerable mining zones in the country.

“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 said.

He further emphasized that the move aligns with the Federal Government’s economic diversification strategy and reinforces the NSCDC’s mandate to safeguard critical national assets and infrastructure.

The Corps urged all stakeholders — including licensed operators, regulatory bodies, and host communities — to cooperate with the Mining Marshals and report suspicious activities to the nearest NSCDC office.

NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting lawful mining, protecting the environment, and eliminating the criminal exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral wealth.