UNODC, NSCDC Mining Marshals Move to Strengthen Fight Against Illegal Mining, Terrorism
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has expressed its readiness to deepen collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals in tackling illegal mining and its growing links to organised crime and terrorism.
The commitment was made during a strategic engagement between a UNODC delegation and the Mining Marshals, led by Mr. Tullio Santini, Chief of the Africa Section of the Terrorism Prevention Branch.
During the meeting, the UNODC delegation commended the Mining Marshals for their enforcement efforts and the unit’s increasing role in combating illicit mining activities across Nigeria.
The discussions also centred on the UNODC CONNECT Initiative, a framework aimed at strengthening cooperation among law-enforcement agencies to disrupt the operational and financial networks linking organised crime with terrorism.
Nigeria is among the countries invited to participate in the initiative, which is scheduled for launch in November 2026.
Representing the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Onoja Attah, welcomed the engagement and called for the formal inclusion of the Mining Marshals in the CONNECT Initiative.
Attah highlighted previous capacity-building programmes supported by the UNODC, noting that they had enhanced collaboration between the Mining Marshals and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), particularly in intelligence-led investigations targeting illicit financial activities.
He stressed the importance of stronger intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation in addressing illegal mining, organised crime and terrorism financing.
The engagement concluded with a shared commitment by the UNODC and NSCDC to strengthen partnerships, enhance intelligence cooperation and coordinate enforcement efforts against illegal mining and other security threats linked to the sector.
The proposed collaboration is expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to disrupt criminal networks that exploit the country’s mineral resources to finance other forms of organised crime and insecurity.
UNODC, NSCDC Mining Marshals Move to Strengthen Fight Against Illegal Mining, Terrorism