Mining marshals arrested 300 illegal miners in eight months, says Alake

Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, says the federal government has arrested nearly 300 illegal mining operators since enlisting mining marshals.

In March, the minister inaugurated mining marshals to secure Nigeria’s mining sites.

The mining marshals were led by Abubakar Audi, commandant-general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Alake had tasked the operatives, drawn from the NSCDC, to stop theft and other nefarious activities around the country’s solid mineral sites.

Speaking during a briefing with the house committee on solid minerals on Thursday, Alake said since deploying over 2,000 trained marshals, unauthorised mining activity has reduced across the country.

“At the forefront of this transformation is a strengthened security framework designed to combat illegal mining — a longstanding challenge that has threatened both local communities and Nigeria’s global standing,” he said.

“Since deploying over 2,000 trained mine marshals, nearly 300 illegal operators, including foreign nationals, have been apprehended, significantly reducing unauthorized mining activity across the nation.

“This renewed security architecture is already having a profound impact. Our commitment to safeguarding our mining sites is also a commitment to Nigeria’s stability and an invitation to investors who seek reliable partnerships.”

Alake said the ministry has successfully attracted the interest of leading international investors through its targeted outreach efforts.

“The strategic focus on in-country processing and value addition for minerals is helping Nigeria retain wealth that might otherwise be lost through raw exports,” he said.

“This policy is also setting a trend across Africa, culminating in the creation of the African mineral strategy group.”