Mining marshals crackdown on illegal miners, arrest 327, recover 98 sites

The Federal Government has arrested 327 illegal miners over the past year since the establishment of the Mining Marshals, according to Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday to mark the first anniversary of the Marshals Corps, Alake revealed that 147 persons are currently being prosecuted across various courts nationwide.

He lauded the impact of the special enforcement unit in tackling illegal mining, stating that within a year, 98 mining sites have been recovered and legally licensed operators have regained access to their sites.

In March 2024, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the Mining Marshals to secure mining sites across Nigeria and enforce mining laws. The initial 2,200 officers in the pioneer unit have now increased to 2,679 personnel, with an additional 450 recruits, including 350 new officers, added throughout the year.

Alake emphasized that the initiative has significantly deterred illegal mining, which had crippled legitimate businesses and posed serious security risks.

“The activation of the Mining Marshals sent shivers down the spine of illegal miners. It is no longer business as usual,” he declared.

The minister further explained that before the intervention of the Mining Marshals, several licensed mining companies had lost access to their sites due to illegal encroachment, with some miners occupying these areas for over a decade.

“In 365 days, the impact of the Mining Marshals has demonstrated that our diagnosis of the problems and the panacea we adopted regarding security in the sector are accurate and effective.

“To demonstrate this, the Mining Marshals have arrested 327 persons in the past year, with cases being prosecuted across various courts in the country,” he further stated.

One of the landmark operations cited by Alake was at North-South Extractive Industries Limited in Kogi State, where over 3,000 illegal miners were flushed out.

Other sites recovered include: Ganan Mining Limited (Kuje, FCT); Jinloys Nigeria Limited (Abia State); and Orbit Exploration and Natural Products Limited (Kogi State)

Alake revealed that 457 suspected illegal mining sites have been identified, with enhanced intelligence-gathering efforts leading to several successful enforcement operations.

He added, “The first clearance operation took place at Mining Lease 19325 in Jagula, Kogi State, where over 3,000 illegal miners were digging and carting away gold, while the real owners, who had obtained the licence in 2016, were barred by threats from operating.

“The Mining Marshals flushed them out completely and stationed personnel on site to maintain law and order.”

He noted that the recovery of 98 sites has allowed legitimate licence owners to resume operations, which will ultimately boost royalties and increase the solid minerals sector’s contribution to national revenue.

Additionally, foreign illegal miners have been convicted, including Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan in Kwara State, marking a decisive shift in the government’s resolve to curb illegal mining.

As the Mining Marshals enter their second year, Alake reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding enforcement operations, flushing out more illegal miners, and improving security in the solid minerals sector.

“For the first time, we are providing both air and ground coverage for the security of the solid minerals sector,” he announced, revealing plans to integrate satellite technology, drones, and miniature robots for surveillance.

The Minister commended security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, for their support in arresting illegal miners and praised the judiciary for swiftly prosecuting offenders.

Earlier, National Commandant of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commander Attah John Onoja, highlighted the Minister’s role in establishing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the corps, ensuring professionalism in enforcement efforts.

“Since our launch, we have responded to numerous petitions from legitimate mineral title holders who were unable to access their sites due to illegal mining activities,” Onoja said.

Despite challenges such as dangerous terrains and security risks, Onoja emphasized the unwavering commitment of the operatives in safeguarding Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

“Our driving force is the commitment to protecting the sector. The words of encouragement from the Honourable Minister mean more to us than money. They have kept our morale high despite limited logistics,” he added.

He also applauded the NSCDC’s collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, noting that the Mining Marshals’ work aligns with the federal government’s economic agenda to reposition the mining sector as a viable alternative to oil revenue.

As part of efforts to further strengthen enforcement, new batches of trained operatives have been deployed to strategic mining sites nationwide, the statement noted.

This is as it concluded that the government’s intensified crackdown on illegal mining aimed to attract foreign investment, regulate the sector, and ensure Nigeria’s mineral resources contribute meaningfully to national development.