The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals have identified misunderstandings within the country’s security infrastructure as one of the reasons for illegal mining in parts of the country.
 
The Mining Marshal Commander, Attah Onoja, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday, in Abuja.
  
Meanwhile, the Commandant-General (CG) of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of a petition by the mining marshal against the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
 
Onoja seized the moment to call on state governments, security operatives and relevant stakeholders to collaborate with the corps to curb illegal mining nationwide.
 
He stated, “There is a need for Nigerians to see the drive towards ensuring a sanitised mining sector as a national agenda. We advise Nigerians, security agencies, civilians, industry players, politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, among others, to understand that this is not an NSCDC, individual, religious or ethnic agenda.  
  
“There is also a need for more sensitisation within the security architecture to foster an understanding of national interest. Until we all see it that way, we will continue to have pockets of misunderstanding in the line of duty.” 
 
According to the official, the mining marshals have, however, used wisdom and diplomacy to “manage these misunderstandings if and when they arise.”
 
He appreciated the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dr Dele Alake; and the NSCDC CG for working to equip and empower the marshals.

A statement signed by the NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Babawale Afolabi, yesterday, in Abuja, revealed that the petition, presented before the Senate committee by Onoja was over an alleged attack and shooting of mining marshals by some police officers.
  
He said the petition also included the police allegedly obstructing mining marshals’ efforts to prosecute illegal miners arrested in Nasarawa State.

The Guardian