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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Mining Marshals have petitioned the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, urging the National Assembly to disregard what they described as “false, disparaging and politically motivated” allegations levelled against the unit by the member representing Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Abdullahi Danga.
In an eight-page petition dated July 24, 2026, and signed by the Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC Attah John Onoja, the unit said the lawmaker’s motion before the House contained unfounded claims aimed at undermining the Federal Government’s reforms in the solid minerals sector under the leadership of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake.
The Mining Marshals said they respected the constitutional oversight role of the National Assembly but argued that the allegations, if left unchallenged, could demoralise officers risking their lives to combat illegal mining in difficult terrains across the country.
According to the petition, the allegations raised by the lawmaker were largely based on claims earlier made by a police officer, CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi of the Force Intelligence Department, which the Marshals said had already been refuted with documentary evidence, including the officer’s bank statement and official rejoinders published in national newspapers.
The unit further alleged that the police officer could face criminal prosecution over his alleged role in facilitating the escape of foreign nationals standing trial for illegal mining offences, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the case exposed the motive behind the allegations against the Mining Marshals.
The Marshals also denied allegations of misappropriating public funds, maintaining that the unit operates with limited logistics support from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the NSCDC and has never received or diverted public funds.
Highlighting its achievements since its establishment, the unit said its operations had disrupted numerous illegal mining sites, led to the seizure of mining equipment, the arrest of suspects and their prosecution, while significantly improving compliance with mining regulations across the country.
It added that its enforcement activities had contributed to increased government revenue from the mining sector, citing official figures which showed that revenue rose from about N6 billion in 2023 to over N70 billion by June 2026. The unit attributed the increase to ongoing reforms in the sector and intensified enforcement by the Mining Marshals.
The petition also noted that collaboration with the military and other security agencies had strengthened efforts to tackle illegal mining, adding that several suspects arrested during operations were currently facing trial at the Federal High Court.
Onoja appealed to members of the National Assembly, industry stakeholders and the general public to disregard what he described as attempts to discredit the Mining Marshals and the gains recorded under the Federal Government’s mining reforms.
He assured Nigerians that the unit would remain committed to sanitising the mining sector and enforcing the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, the Mining Regulations 2011 and other government policies aimed at promoting a safer and more transparent mining industry.
Copies of the petition were also sent to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, the Commandant-General of the NSCDC and the Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development.
