A looming inter-agency crisis is unfolding in Rafin Gabas, Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where police operatives from the Force Headquarters have allegedly threatened to storm a mining site under the protection of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)'s Mining Marshals.

The police team, reportedly led by Chief Superintendent Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi, claims to be acting on a Federal High Court order. However, the NSCDC's Mining Marshals have challenged the legitimacy of the court directive, alleging that it was obtained through suppression of key facts and without proper jurisdiction. A motion has since been filed in court to contest the order, and police authorities have been formally served through court bailiffs.

Security sources confirmed to PRNigeria that CSP Oyewumi had previously led an attempted operation at the same site with around 30 armed personnel, an episode that nearly turned violent. The incident was defused only by the restraint of senior security officials present at the scene.

The brewing conflict follows the withdrawal of military personnel from the location on March 26, 2025, after the Mining Marshals requested full control to pursue legal proceedings. The marshals had earlier carried out arrests at the site in October 2024 and March 2025, detaining individuals allegedly involved in illegal mining, including several Chinese nationals. These arrests led to charges now pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja, under case numbers FHC/ABJ/CR/577/2024 and FHC/ABJ/CR/131/2025.

At the heart of the dispute is one Ali Tanko of Daymay A. Global Limited, accused of orchestrating the illicit mining operations. He was granted administrative bail but has since absconded. Authorities believe he is now fuelling tensions between the Police and NSCDC in a bid to derail his prosecution.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, both the Police and NSCDC appear to be jostling for control of the site. Recently, police operatives withdrew from a neighbouring location, allegedly in preparation for a planned operation targeting the NSCDC-guarded mine.

When contacted, Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi explained that the police were not at the site to dispute its control but were acting on a legitimate investigative mission.

?I can authoritatively confirm that our operatives were assigned to investigate serious cases of murder and criminal activity following multiple petitions from residents in the area,? Adejobi said. ?The investigation is ongoing, and some security operatives may also be required to answer questions. This operation is not about guarding mining sites.?

Reacting to the development, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Idris Abubakar, counsel to the complainant and a party in the matter, called for restraint and adherence to the rule of law.

?The rule of law must prevail,? Abubakar said. ?Even if there is a claim of disobedience to a court order, the lawful step is to report it to the court?not to unilaterally invade a crime scene that is already under judicial scrutiny.?

The situation has raised alarms over the integrity of law enforcement agencies and their perceived complicity in illegal mining. Public concerns have intensified following recent allegations by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who accused some security outfits of shielding criminal mining networks across the country.

Amid the growing tension, security experts and civil society groups are calling for urgent inter-agency coordination, stressing the need for both the Police and NSCDC to respect jurisdictional boundaries and work in tandem to uphold the law.

As legal and institutional clashes continue to brew, many fear that the credibility of Nigeria?s security architecture is at stake?particularly in the fight against resource-related crimes. (PRNigeria)

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