The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General, Prof. Abubakar Audi, has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, civil society, and local communities to effectively tackle illegal mining across the country.
Speaking at a National Stakeholders and Civil Society Summit in Abuja, Audi stressed that the fight against illegal mining cannot be won by security forces alone but requires grassroots engagement, intelligence sharing, and community participation.
The summit, held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, brought together senior government officials, security experts, and civil society leaders to examine national threats including terrorism, oil theft, violent extremism, and illegal mining.
Represented by Assistant Commandant Attah Onoja, Commander of the Mining Marshals, Audi highlighted the Corps’ successes under his leadership. He noted that the establishment of the Mining Marshals has enabled intelligence-driven operations that disrupted illegal mining activities, safeguarded mineral resources, and boosted government revenue.
Onoja also underscored the need for stronger inter-agency coordination in addressing broader security challenges such as banditry and terrorism, warning that “security challenges require collective action and sustained policy implementation.”
Participants at the summit agreed that security institutions, including the NSCDC, must be further strengthened to combat crimes that threaten Nigeria’s economic stability and democratic order.
