Pix: ACC John Onojah Attah

Omoigbom omorege, a mining expert, writes in from a Lagos.

In a country where crime syndicates often rival the state in resources and firepower, few security officers have managed to stand out as symbols of discipline and grit. Commander John Onojah Attah, who leads the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Special Marshals, is one of them. For more than a year, he has been on the frontlines of some of the country’s toughest battles from illegal mining rings in the hinterlands to the protection of national assets under constant threat.

As Commander of the Special Mining Marshals, the NSCDC unit charged with safeguarding Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth, Attah has built his reputation on courage, professionalism, and results. It is dangerous work. Illegal mining drains the country of an estimated 7 to 9 billion dollars each year, fueling criminal cartels that stop at nothing to protect their illicit trade. In this hostile terrain, Attah has led operations that seized equipment, dismantled refining sites, and arrested more than 250 suspects between 2022 and 2024. Colleagues say his planning is meticulous and his courage unshakable. He leads from the front, often the first into the field and the last to retreat.

But his strength is not only tactical. Attah has mastered the delicate art of winning over communities in conflict zones. Where other officers might meet hostility, he builds alliances with traditional rulers, youth groups, and local leaders. This approach has saved lives, both of his men and of civilians caught in the crossfire. It has also helped reposition the NSCDC as a people-centered agency rather than a force of occupation.

His superiors in Abuja have noticed. Commendations have followed, as well as recognition from civil society groups tracking accountability in Nigeria’s extractive industries. Yet, to the men who serve under him, his greatest legacy is not the medals but his mentorship. They describe him as a leader who insists on discipline, integrity, and empathy in equal measure.

Nigeria’s security landscape is brutal and unforgiving. Terrorism in the north, militancy in the delta, oil theft, kidnapping, and urban crime all test the nation’s resolve daily. In such an environment, officers like Commander John Onojah Attah are rare. He embodies what the Corps can be at its best: tough but humane, aggressive against criminals but compassionate toward civilians, unyielding in battle yet grounded in integrity.

Rare breed personalities are not born every day. They are forged in fire — hardened by danger, sharpened by experience, defined by loyalty. Commander John Onojah Attah is one of those few. And as Nigeria struggles to build a safer and more stable future, it is men like him who remind the nation that courage and character still matter.