By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

The Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) has honoured the Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Attah Onoja, with its Outstanding Operational Commander’s Award in recognition of his leadership and operational contributions.

The award was presented on October 12, 2026, during DECAN’s Conference and Awards ceremony held at the Nigerian Army Command Officers’ Mess 1, WU Bassey Barracks, Asokoro, Abuja.

The conference, themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security,” examined the growing importance of intelligence gathering, technological innovation and inter-agency collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.In his remarks,

Onoja attributed the recognition to the leadership and operational vision of the NSCDC Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, acknowledging the strategic direction and institutional support provided by the Corps leadership.

A major focus of the conference was the need for security agencies to move beyond conventional enforcement methods by embracing intelligence-driven operations, advanced surveillance systems and effective information-sharing to improve operational outcomes.

In a goodwill message delivered on his behalf by Air Commodore Stephen Ogunmodele, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), stressed that military firepower alone was insufficient to guarantee national security. He emphasised the importance of intelligence in detecting threats, understanding security environments and enabling precise, coordinated responses.

Similarly, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi O. Oluyede, highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence, space-based surveillance and intelligence fusion to strengthen operational efficiency and improve decision-making across the security sector.

These priorities are particularly relevant to the Mining Marshals, whose mandate includes combating illegal mining, protecting mineral resources and disrupting criminal networks involved in unauthorised mineral extraction.

Effective enforcement requires not only raids and arrests but also reliable intelligence, coordinated action among relevant agencies and sustained monitoring to prevent illegal operators from returning to abandoned or previously raided sites.

The conference also examined the dangers of artificial intelligence-generated misinformation and underscored the responsibility of defence correspondents to report security matters accurately and ethically while protecting sensitive operational information and upholding public accountability.

The keynote address was delivered by former Chief of Army Staff and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), who addressed the broader security considerations underpinning the conference theme.For the Mining Marshals, the recognition comes amid growing national attention to illegal mineral extraction and the need to safeguard Nigeria’s natural resources from exploitation.

The ultimate test of intelligence-led enforcement will be its ability to produce measurable results, including a reduction in illegal mining, stronger protection for mining communities, improved compliance with mining regulations and increased government revenue from the mineral sector.Onoja’s recognition by DECAN highlights the importance of operational leadership in Nigeria’s security architecture, while reinforcing the need for sustained cooperation among security agencies, technological innovation and accountable enforcement to protect the nation’s strategic assets.