Reported Simon Daniel Yusuph l journalist at wengglobal
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals have commended the Nigerian Army for its continued cooperation in the fight against illegal mining after troops arrested and handed over 15 suspected illegal miners to the specialised enforcement unit in the Federal Capital Territory.
The suspects were arrested by troops of the 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, during an operation at an illegal mining location in Kuje Area Council, Abuja, before being transferred to the NSCDC Mining Marshals for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The development has been described by security officials as another example of inter-agency cooperation in addressing illegal mining, an activity authorities say is capable of causing environmental degradation, undermining government revenue and threatening the security of communities.
The handover formed part of a wider joint operation involving the Nigerian Army and Mining Marshals, who subsequently inspected the mining location to gather evidence and advance investigations into the alleged illegal activities.
According to reports published by The Guardian, Punch, Vanguard and other Nigerian media organisations, the operation followed the arrest and handover of the 15 suspects by the 176 Guards Battalion. The reports cited a statement from the Commander of Mining Marshals Operations and Assistant Commandant of Corps, Attah John Onoja. (The Guardian Nigeria)
Army’s Role in Tackling Illegal Mining
The involvement of the Nigerian Army highlights the increasingly coordinated approach being adopted by Nigerian security and regulatory institutions to confront illegal mining.
While the Mining Marshals were established within the NSCDC as a specialised enforcement structure for the mining sector, illegal mining operations can sometimes involve security risks requiring the participation of conventional security forces.
In the Kuje operation, the Army’s role was particularly significant in the initial arrest of the suspects and their subsequent transfer to the Mining Marshals.
The Mining Marshals then undertook a joint investigative inspection of the mining site in accordance with their operational procedures.
The process is important because arrest alone does not establish criminal liability. Investigators must gather evidence, establish whether the individuals were operating without the necessary authorisations and determine the precise circumstances surrounding the mining activities before prosecution can proceed.
This distinction is essential to maintaining due process, particularly where suspects have not yet been convicted by a court.
The Nation reported that the operation was part of an intensified campaign against illegal mining and its impact on communities and Nigeria’s economy. (The Nation)
Mining Marshals Praise Inter-Agency Collaboration
The Mining Marshals’ commendation of the Army reflects a broader push by Nigerian authorities to strengthen cooperation among security agencies in combating illicit activities within the solid minerals sector.
Illegal mining remains a major concern for the Federal Government because of its potential impact on legitimate mining operations, government revenue and environmental sustainability.
The government’s strategy has increasingly combined enforcement with efforts to formalise artisanal mining.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake has previously said the government was using both persuasive and coercive measures to address illegal mining. According to the Voice of Nigeria, the government has encouraged miners to form cooperatives and enter the formal mining system, while the Mining Marshals are expected to enforce the law against operators who refuse to comply. (Voice of Nigeria)
The distinction between legitimate artisanal mining and illegal mining is important.
Nigeria has a substantial population involved in artisanal and small-scale mining, and authorities have repeatedly acknowledged the need to bring more operators into the formal economy rather than treating every small-scale miner as a criminal.
At the same time, operators working without licences or outside approved mining areas can expose communities and the environment to serious risks.
Environmental and Economic Concerns
Illegal mining has consequences that extend beyond lost government revenue.
Unregulated mining can contribute to land degradation, deforestation, water pollution and the destruction of agricultural land. In areas where mining is carried out without proper environmental safeguards, communities can face long-term damage to natural resources.
The economic consequences can also be significant.
Nigeria has identified solid minerals as an important component of its strategy to diversify government revenue and reduce dependence on oil. But the success of that strategy depends partly on the ability of the government to regulate mining activities, protect legitimate operators and ensure that mineral resources contribute to the formal economy.
The Guardian reported that the joint operation in Kuje was part of renewed efforts to address illegal mining and its implications for communities and the national economy. (The Guardian Nigeria)
When minerals are extracted outside the formal regulatory framework, the government may lose royalties, taxes and other revenues that could otherwise be invested in infrastructure and public services.
Illegal mining can also undermine legitimate investors who operate under licences and are required to comply with regulatory and environmental standards.
Mining Marshals’ Expanding Enforcement Role
The Mining Marshals were inaugurated in 2024 as a specialised NSCDC unit designed to strengthen security and enforcement in Nigeria’s mining sector.
At the inauguration, NSCDC Commandant-General Ahmed Audi said mining sites were among the critical assets requiring protection and noted the financial losses associated with illegal mining. (News Agency of Nigeria)
Since then, the unit has participated in operations across several states.
In February 2026, TheCable reported that Mining Marshals, working with the Department of State Services, Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police Force, dislodged illegal miners from gold mining sites in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State. (TheCable)
The Guardian similarly reported that a coordinated operation involving the Mining Marshals and other security agencies cleared hundreds of illegal miners from mining locations associated with the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative in Yauri. (The Guardian Nigeria)
These operations indicate that the unit’s responsibilities increasingly involve collaboration with other security agencies rather than operating in isolation.
Push for Nationwide Coverage
The Federal Government has also indicated plans to expand the operational reach of the Mining Marshals.
In November 2025, Minister Dele Alake said the Marshals had reclaimed 90 sites from illegal miners and bandits, prosecuted more than 300 suspects and monitored hundreds of sites threatened by illicit activities.
Vanguard reported that Alake also expressed an ambition to expand the unit’s operations to all 774 local government areas, subject to improved logistics, vehicles, equipment and other operational resources. (Vanguard News)
Punch similarly reported that the Federal Government intended to strengthen the capacity of the Mining Marshals as part of efforts to rid the country of illegal miners and improve security around mining operations. (Punch Newspapers)
Such an expansion would represent a significant increase in enforcement capacity, but it would also require strong coordination among federal, state and local institutions.
Importance of Due Process
While the latest arrests have been welcomed as an enforcement success, the next stage of the process remains critical.
The 15 individuals are described as suspected illegal miners, meaning their guilt has not been established merely by arrest.
The Mining Marshals are expected to conduct investigations, determine whether the suspects possessed valid mining permits or operated outside approved locations, preserve evidence and, where appropriate, submit cases for prosecution.
A transparent judicial process is important not only for protecting the rights of suspects but also for strengthening the credibility of the government’s campaign against illegal mining.
Successful enforcement should ultimately be measured not simply by the number of arrests but by the quality of investigations, successful prosecutions where evidence supports them, recovery of illegally occupied mining areas and the reduction of unlawful activity.
Security Agencies Face a Complex Challenge
The Kuje operation also demonstrates the complexity of securing Nigeria’s mining sector.
Mining locations are often situated in remote areas where conventional security infrastructure may be limited. Illegal operators can move between locations, while some sites may attract armed groups or other criminal networks.
The government has therefore increasingly emphasised intelligence-led operations and collaboration between security and regulatory institutions.
The Nigerian Army’s handover of the 15 suspects to the Mining Marshals demonstrates how such cooperation can function in practice: troops can provide security and make arrests where necessary, while specialised mining enforcement officers can focus on regulatory investigations and the prosecution process.
Such division of responsibilities can improve efficiency if supported by clear operational guidelines and effective communication.
Wider Implications for Nigeria’s Mining Sector
The latest development comes as Nigeria seeks to position its solid minerals sector as a stronger contributor to economic growth.
The country has significant deposits of gold, lithium, tin, columbite, iron ore and other minerals. Government policy has increasingly focused on attracting investment, formalising artisanal mining and developing local value chains.
However, these objectives depend on creating an environment where legitimate mining companies can operate without facing unfair competition from unlicensed operators.
The crackdown on illegal mining therefore has implications beyond law enforcement.
It is also about creating a more predictable regulatory environment, protecting communities, preserving the environment and ensuring that Nigeria receives appropriate economic benefits from its natural resources.
The Mining Marshals’ cooperation with the Army and other security agencies could become an important component of that strategy.
Wengglobal Perspective
The commendation of the Nigerian Army by the Mining Marshals following the handover of 15 suspected illegal miners underscores the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing Nigeria’s illegal mining challenge.
The Kuje operation demonstrates that effective enforcement requires more than arrests. It requires intelligence, evidence gathering, regulatory expertise, security support and a judicial process capable of determining responsibility.
For the government, the immediate priority should be to ensure that investigations involving the 15 suspects are conducted professionally and that any prosecution is based on credible evidence.
Beyond the current operation, authorities must continue to distinguish between illegal mining and legitimate artisanal activities while creating accessible pathways for informal operators to enter the regulated sector.
The broader objective should be to transform Nigeria’s mineral wealth into sustainable economic value without sacrificing environmental protection, community interests or the rule of law.
The Nigerian Army’s cooperation with the Mining Marshals is therefore significant, but the effectiveness of the campaign will ultimately depend on whether such collaboration can be sustained, expanded and translated into measurable reductions in illegal mining across the country.
As Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy, protecting the integrity of the mining sector will remain a critical national priority.
Sources:
- The Guardian Nigeria — Reported the joint Army-Mining Marshals operation in Kuje and the arrest and handover of 15 suspected illegal miners. (The Guardian Nigeria)
- Punch — Reported that troops of the 176 Guards Battalion arrested and handed over 15 suspects to the Mining Marshals for investigation and prosecution. (Punch Newspapers)
- Vanguard — Reported on the joint inspection and renewed crackdown on illegal mining in Kuje. (Vanguard News)
- The Nation — Reported the Army-NSCDC operation and described the handover as part of intensified efforts against illegal mining. (The Nation)
- PRNigeria — Reported the arrest and transfer of the 15 suspects from the Army to the Mining Marshals. (PRNigeria News)
- TheCable — Reported on previous Mining Marshals operations involving the Army and other security agencies in Kebbi. (TheCable)
- Voice of Nigeria — Reported the Federal Government’s broader strategy combining formalisation and enforcement to tackle illegal mining. (Voice of Nigeria)
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