Mining Marshals Seek Stronger Partnership With UN, Canada to Tackle Illegal Mining, Terrorism Financing
Mining Marshals Seek Stronger Partnership With UN, Canada to Tackle Illegal Mining, Terrorism Financing
Mining Marshals Seek Stronger Partnership With UN, Canada to Tackle Illegal Mining, Terrorism Financing
The Mining Marshals Corps (MMC) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called for enhanced collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Canadian authorities in addressing illegal mining, illicit financial flows, and terrorism financing linked to Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
The appeal was made during a high-level visit by officials of UNODC and donor partners from Canada to the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Audi, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah John Onoja, said illegal mining has evolved beyond a mere economic offence into a serious national security threat requiring coordinated, intelligence-driven responses.
He expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership under the project titled “Strengthening Nigeria’s Response to Criminal and Terrorist Finance Related to Minerals,” noting that it has significantly improved the operational and investigative capacity of personnel deployed to tackle mineral-related crimes.
The engagement was attended by senior officials including Tom Parker, who oversees counter-terrorism initiatives under UNODC security and criminal justice programmes; Princess Chifiero, responsible for programme implementation and stakeholder coordination in Nigeria; as well as Wilma E. Endamne and Nikkolai Valverde-Yetman from Global Affairs Canada, Ottawa.
Onoja explained that the Mining Marshals Corps operates through specialised units, including field operations teams deployed to mining hotspots, intelligence and surveillance units, enforcement and compliance units, legal support structures, and community liaison officers who engage host communities to discourage illegal mining activities.
He noted that the Corps’ mandate includes safeguarding Nigeria’s mineral resources, preventing illegal mining, and ensuring the prosecution of offenders involved in illicit extraction and mineral-related crimes.
According to him, collaboration with UNODC began in 2025 through training needs assessments and technical consultations supported by Global Affairs Canada. He added that the Corps also contributes intelligence to the Technical Working Group coordinated by the National Counter Terrorism Centre.
He further disclosed that at least 21 officers benefited from a foundational training programme on terrorism financing investigations held in November 2025, describing it as a major step in strengthening investigative capacity and disrupting criminal supply chains linked to illegal mining.
The Corps said it has since deployed specialised units to illegal mining hotspots, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions, where joint operations have led to the dismantling of illegal mining camps and the arrest of suspects.
It also highlighted increased intelligence gathering, surveillance operations, and community engagement initiatives, alongside improved support for prosecution through field-based evidence collection.
Commending the efforts, Ms. Endamne expressed satisfaction with the commitment demonstrated by the Mining Marshals in combating illegal mining and related financial crimes.
Similarly, Tom Parker reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to supporting the Corps within available resources, describing the partnership as vital to strengthening criminal justice responses.
The Mining Marshals Corps, however, called for expanded international assistance in intelligence analysis, equipment provision, advanced training, and integration of enforcement data into broader financial crime investigations.
It reaffirmed its commitment to working with UNODC and Canadian partners to build stronger enforcement mechanisms, enhance intelligence-led operations, and disrupt transnational criminal networks exploiting Nigeria’s mineral resources.
Mining Marshals Seek Stronger Partnership With UN, Canada to Tackle Illegal Mining, Terrorism Financing
