NSCDC Accuses Police of Shielding Illegal Miners, Seeks Probe

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has accused operatives of the Nigeria Police Force of frustrating its efforts to combat illegal mining in Nasarawa State, alleging that some officers were aiding suspects and obstructing investigations.

Commander of the Mining Marshals, Mr. Attah John Onoja, leveled the allegation in a petition dated June 2, 2025 and submitted to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Onoja alleged that officers from the Force Intelligence Department (FID) led by one CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi had not only shielded suspects from prosecution but also endangered NSCDC personnel through harassment, unlawful arrests and even gunfire.

According to the petition, the Mining Marshals — a special task force under Operation Hayakin Kogo — apprehended several illegal miners in October 2024, including one Ali Tanko and his Chinese accomplices.

He said the arrests followed a petition from Capital Apex Synergy Global Ltd., which holds legal mining rights in Rafin Gabas, Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Onoja stated that the suspects confessed to operating without a mining licence since 2021 and were subsequently charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja under two suits: FHC/ABJ/CR/577/2024 and FHC/ABJ/CR/131/2025.

However, the NSCDC alleges that its prosecution efforts were hampered when police personnel began interfering with investigations and deployed officers to the mining site.

“In one incident, on April 3, 2025, four police officers allegedly opened fire on the Mining Marshals. The officers were reportedly disarmed and handed over to the Police along with their rifles,” he said

Despite what the NSCDC described as an attempted murder, Onoja said the Inspector General of Police failed to investigate the shooting — echoing a similar incident in February 2025, when police operatives allegedly fired at NSCDC officers guarding another illegal mining site in Ondo State.

“On April 8, 2025, CSP Abdulmajeed led about 30 police officers back to the Rafin Gabas site, where they allegedly assaulted and arrested four NSCDC personnel, seized their weapons and valuables, and tried to compel them to falsely implicate their commander,” he said.

Onoja further accused the Police of securing a restraining order from the Federal High Court through an ex parte application, falsely accusing the NSCDC of involvement in illegal mining and even a homicide — without submitting a death certificate or other supporting evidence.

He described the court order as “fraudulently obtained” and said the Mining Marshals have filed a motion to set it aside, citing suppression of facts and lack of jurisdiction.

The petition calls on the Senate Committee to hold a public hearing to investigate the Police’s actions and recommend disciplinary measures, including sanctions against CSP Abdulmajeed.

It also seeks legislative protection to prevent further interference with the operations of Mining Marshals across the country.

Onoja warned that recent actions by the Police — including an alleged threat by CSP Abdulmajeed to deploy the military to bombard the secured mining site — amount to a dangerous abuse of power and could derail lawful prosecution efforts.

He said a video recording of the threat, as well as several annexures detailing communication between the NSCDC, Police, Army, and legal counsels, had been submitted to the Senate.