Illegal Miners Kill Mining Marshal In Niger

Illegal miners have killed a Mining Marshal of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

LEADERSHIP Friday findings revealed that following the increasing number of illegal miners apprehended over the past year by the Mining Marshals, some of the illegal miners hired armed mercenaries to shield them from arrest and attack the officials.

It was learnt that no fewer than 120 illegal miners were apprehended between late 2025 and the second quarter of this year, as part of the renewed crackdown on illegal miners in a collaboration between the Niger State Ministry of Mineral Resources and the Mining Marshals.

Consequently, heavily armed illegal miners with their mercenaries attacked the NSCDC, Niger State Mining Marshals, killing an officer yesterday in one of the operations.

Confirming this to LEADERSHIP Friday, the  public relations officer  of NSCDC Niger State Copmmand, DSC Abubakar  Muti, said the “command, regrets to announce the death of one of its personnel, who paid the supreme price while carrying out his lawful duty in the fight against illegal mining activities in the state”.

He said the mining marshals were on a routine operational patrol at an illegal mining site in Korokpa Village when they came under attack by suspected illegal miners and their collaborators.

According to him, “On sighting the NSCDC personnel, the suspects launched a coordinated and unprovoked attack on the patrol team in an apparent attempt to resist lawful enforcement operations. The operatives promptly requested reinforcement to contain the situation and restore order.

“During the reinforcement operation, one of the responding officers was fatally shot in the head by the assailants. The injured officer was immediately evacuated from the scene and rushed to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment. Despite the best efforts of medical personnel to save his life, he sadly succumbed to his injuries,” he added.

While condemning the attack on the corps’ personnel, Muti said the Command remained resolute in its constitutional mandate to protect the nation’s critical assets and infrastructure, including solid minerals, and would not be deterred by criminal elements.