By Samuel Ike, Abuja

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals in the fight against illegal mining and its connections to organised crime and terrorism.

The commitment was expressed during a strategic engagement between a UNODC delegation and the NSCDC Mining Marshals. The delegation, led by Mr. Tullio Santini, Chief of the Africa Section of the Terrorism Prevention Branch, commended the Mining Marshals for their enforcement efforts and growing contribution to curbing illicit mining activities across the country.

A major focus of the meeting was the UNODC CONNECT Initiative, a framework designed to enhance cooperation among law enforcement agencies in disrupting the operational and financial networks linking organised crime to terrorism. Nigeria is among the countries selected to participate in the initiative, which is scheduled to be launched in November 2026.

Representing the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, welcomed the engagement and advocated for the formal inclusion of the Mining Marshals in the CONNECT Initiative.

ACC Attah noted that previous UNODC-supported capacity-building programmes had significantly enhanced collaboration between the Mining Marshals and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), particularly in the area of intelligence-driven investigations and the tracking of illicit financial flows associated with illegal mining.

He emphasized that illegal mining has evolved beyond an economic crime, becoming a significant security challenge that fuels environmental degradation, revenue losses, arms trafficking, banditry and other forms of organised criminal activity. He stressed the need for stronger inter-agency and international cooperation to effectively dismantle the networks sustaining the illicit trade.

The meeting underscored the shared determination of both organisations to deepen partnerships, strengthen intelligence-sharing mechanisms and coordinate efforts aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks and addressing the broader security threats they pose to Nigeria and the region.