The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has inaugurated Mining Marshals for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to checkmate illegal mining of solid minerals in over 1,175 illegal mining sites across the country.

Inaugurating the Marshals at the headquarters of the Corps in Abuja, the minister said the Mining Marshals would carry out their functions in conjunction with the Ministry of Solid Minerals headed by Dele Alake.

Tunji-Ojo charged the Corps to secure Nigeria’s collective assets in areas of oil and gas infrastructures, solid minerals, power infrastructures, and telecommunications infrastructures amongst others.

He explained that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, it would not be business as usual for the personnel of the NSCDC since, by the Act establishing the Agency; the NSCDC has the broadest mandate to protect lives and property as well as critical national assets.

The minister warned the Corps against any form of competition with other security agencies especially the Police, insisting that the Corps should collaborate with other agencies to rid the country of all manners of criminals and criminalities.

The Minister who was the Special Guest at the 2024 International Civil Defence Day with the theme:” honour the heroes and promote safety skills “was treated to a colourful parade at the Parade Ground in the headquarters of the NSCDC, Abuja.

He commended the Commandant General (CG) of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi for introducing far-reaching reforms that have changed the narratives of the Agency as a formidable force to reckon with in the security architecture of the country.

Audi in his remarks said the NSCDC has within the past three years of his assumption of office destroyed over 200 illegal refineries, arrested over 500 suspected oil thieves, and ensured the successful prosecution and conviction of 120 people. He said 1175 illegal mining sites have been identified and would be manned by the newly created Mining Marshals to curtail the activities of illegal miners.

He said the Corps Special Intelligence Squad established recently has arrested 8 tankers which served as a warehouse for stolen railway sleepers and other equipment valued at over 1.7 billion naira.

According to the CG, the Corps also successfully thwarted 48 kidnap attempts and attacks on various schools across the country within the past three years and paid over two billion naira to offset live and accident benefits for its personnel.

He said cheques would be distributed on the occasion of his three years in office which coincided with International Civil Defence Day to about 175 personnel, and families of those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Audi emphasized that the Corps has carved a nitch for itself in its participation in different joint military operations across the country in addition to escorting farmers to their farmers in Borno, Yobe, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Kaduna, and Benue states to boost food security. (The Nation)

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