Commander Attah Onoja, Head, NSCDC Special Mining Marshals

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals have sealed off an illegal quarry in the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, arresting 13 suspects linked to the operation. The suspects, officials say, had been unlawfully exploiting a quarry lease belonging to a licensed mining company for more than seven months. They are now facing prosecution.

Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Attah John Onoja, confirmed that the raid was part of nationwide efforts to cleanse the mining sector and safeguard critical national assets. He stressed that the unit would not tolerate acts that undermine legitimate operators, warning that anyone caught flouting mining regulations would be prosecuted without hesitation.

The Mining Marshals, a special NSCDC unit created to combat illegal mining, have been working under the directives of NSCDC Commandant General, Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi, whose strategic leadership focuses on curbing illegalities in sensitive national sectors. Illegal mining, authorities warn, has fueled revenue loss, environmental damage, and local conflicts across Nigeria.

Officials revealed that the Kuje site had been operating without necessary permits, environmental safeguards, or safety measures, creating both ecological risks and threats to public safety. Enforcement in remote or peri-urban areas has historically been weak, but the NSCDC says it is now stepping up nationwide surveillance and crackdowns.

The arrested suspects remain in custody and are expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days. Authorities reiterated their resolve to restore order and transparency to the mining industry as part of the government’s broader economic diversification and internal security agenda.