By Kunle Babalola, Abuja

”We face bullets, not just bandits and illegal miners.” These were the stirring words of Commander John Attah Onoja, Head of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Special Mining Marshals, as he received a distinguished service award from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, during a ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The event brought together EXCO members of the NUJ FCT Council, some other senior journalists and stakeholders, all gathered to celebrate the remarkable courage and dedication of Commander Onoja and his team in the ongoing fight against illegal mining and mineral theft across the country.

In his address, Onoja paid glowing tribute to the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, describing him as a “transformational leader” whose bold vision and reforms have redefined the Corps’ operational focus and national relevance. “It is the visionary leadership of CG Audi that makes our work possible. His belief in professionalism, intelligence-led operations, and inter-agency synergy is the reason we are seeing unprecedented results in protecting Nigeria’s mineral wealth,” he declared.

Commander Onoja’s recognition comes amid sustained anti-illegal mining operations by the Special Mining Marshals across volatile zones in Nasarawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Plateau, Niger, Kogi, and the Federal Capital Territory. In 2024 alone, the unit has carried out more than 60 major operations, resulting in the arrest of over 500 illegal miners and the confiscation of heavy-duty machinery and mineral-laden trucks estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of naira.

Independent reports from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development indicate that illegal mining activity has reduced by over 40 percent in areas under direct surveillance of the NSCDC, following the deployment of Special Marshals trained under the new CG Audi doctrine of tactical field intelligence and rapid response.

NUJ FCT Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, who presented the award to Commander Onoja, said the Council chose to honour a man whose service often goes unrecognized, despite the high-risk nature of his assignment. “We are honouring not just a man, but a mission, the mission to protect Nigeria’s resources for future generations,” Grace Ike said, while commending Professor Audi for repositioning the Corps to confront emerging security challenges.

Several speakers at the event echoed similar sentiments, calling on the Federal Government to increase funding for the NSCDC, especially the Special Mining Marshals, and to provide them with modern equipment such as drones, armored vehicles, and satellite communication systems to enhance field operations.

Commander John Attah Onoja, while receiving the award, dedicated the honour to the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, in recognition of his strategic leadership and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s economy through the protection of the extractive industry. He also acknowledged the gallant officers of the Corps on the frontlines of this critical national assignment.

“Their commitment is not driven by the perks of wearing a uniform, but by an unflinching sense of duty to defend Nigeria’s economic lifelines from internal sabotage,” Onoja stated. “This is a national security war. What we are fighting is not just criminality, but an economic insurgency. And we will not back down,” he vowed.

The emotional ceremony ended with loud applause as guests and colleagues hailed Commander Onoja’s courage and CG Audi’s strategic leadership that has continued to shape the NSCDC into a frontline force in national security and economic protection.