Niger State Illegal Miners Arrest: Soldiers Detain 18, Recover N2.4m
Soldiers of the 102 Guard Battalion, an elite unit of the Nigerian Army headquartered in Suleja, Niger State, have arrested 18 individuals described as “illegal miners” and recovered cash amounting to N2.4 million, alongside a range of mining equipment, following a routine patrol in the state.
The suspects were arrested at a mining site in Izom, a satellite town in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, during the operation, according to a statement posted on the Facebook handle of the Mining Marshals, a special anti-illegal mining unit of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The statement added that the soldiers subsequently handed over the suspects to the NSCDC special force unit headquarters in Sauka, Abuja, in line with established inter-agency procedures for cooperation between security agencies.
The NSCDC alleged that the suspects “operated without licences, permits or affiliations with any registered mining company.” Preliminary investigations by the Mining Marshals further revealed that the suspects were unable to present documents showing they possessed valid mineral titles or approval from the appropriate regulatory agencies, and could not be linked to any legally registered mining operation.
Beyond the cash recovered, the operation also led to the seizure of several other items believed to have been used in the illegal mining activities, including motorcycles, pumping machines, crusher engines and communication devices, underscoring the scale of the unauthorised operation uncovered by the soldiers.
The commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, commended the soldiers and described the operation as an example of inter-agency collaboration, which he called “exemplary, unprecedented and patriotic.” Reacting to the arrests, he said, “The Nigerian Army has once again distinguished itself through professionalism, discipline and patriotism. The swift arrest of the suspects and their prompt handover to the Mining Marshals reflect a commendable commitment to the rule of law and the protection of Nigeria’s solid mineral resources.”
Attah added that the operation reflected the military’s broader commitment to protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources and supporting ongoing campaigns to sanitise the mining sector nationwide. He vowed that the Mining Marshals would continue to clamp down on illegal mining operations across the country and ensure that all individuals involved in unlawful mineral extraction are held accountable, noting that the unit, under the leadership of Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, would continue to rely on intelligence-driven methods to pursue illegal operators.
Attah further reiterated the Mining Marshals’ resolve to prosecute those involved in the illegal exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources, assuring legitimate players within the solid minerals sector that the unit would continue enforcing the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, to protect the country’s mineral wealth from unlawful exploitation.
The operation forms part of wider ongoing efforts by government agencies to curb illegal mining in Nigeria, an activity that has been linked to substantial revenue losses for the government, environmental degradation, and the diversion of the country’s mineral resources away from proper regulatory and taxation channels. Illegal mining has remained a persistent challenge across several Nigerian states, particularly those rich in solid mineral deposits like Niger State, prompting recurring joint operations between the military, the NSCDC, and other regulatory bodies.
As of the time of filing, it remained unclear whether the 18 suspects had been formally arraigned in court, with the Mining Marshals stating that the individuals remained in custody as investigations continued ahead of any planned prosecution under Nigeria’s mining laws.
About the Author
