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For the Men Taking the Fight to Illegal Miners

‎By Zekeri Idakwo Laruba
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‎”When a child performs well, the elders do not hesitate to pat him on the back and encourage him to do even better.” This age-old African wisdom captures the essence of the Federal Government’s recent vote of confidence in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals.
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‎For a special enforcement unit that has endured sustained attacks, misinformation campaigns, intimidation and attempts at blackmail from powerful vested interests, the government’s endorsement is more than a commendation, it is a vindication.
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‎Since their deployment to combat illegal mining in 2024, the Mining Marshals have emerged as one of the most impactful security interventions in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector. Their operations have disrupted illicit mining networks, protected strategic national assets, restored confidence among legitimate investors and strengthened the Federal Government’s determination to ensure that Nigeria’s mineral wealth serves national development rather than criminal enterprise.
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‎Expectedly, such success has not gone down well with those who once operated with impunity. As the Marshals intensified enforcement, they became targets of orchestrated smear campaigns by individuals and groups threatened by the reforms sweeping through the mining sector.
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‎It was against this backdrop that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, delivered perhaps the strongest endorsement yet of the Mining Marshals during the commissioning of eight operational gun trucks for the unit in Abuja.
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‎”The Mining Marshals have recorded significant successes in curbing illegal mining operations and protecting the nation’s mineral resources. It is therefore not surprising that those who have profited from illegality are uncomfortable with their achievements and are resorting to campaigns of blackmail and misinformation,” the Minister declared.
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‎Those words were not merely a defence of the unit; they were a direct rebuttal to critics and detractors who have sought to question the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Marshals’ operations.
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‎More importantly, the Minister’s statement confirmed that the Federal Government sees through the noise and remains fully committed to supporting the special enforcement squad.
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‎A Critical Pillar of Renewed Hope
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‎The significance of this vote of confidence extends far beyond the Mining Marshals themselves.
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‎It signals that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains unwavering in its commitment to sanitising the solid minerals sector as part of the broader Renewed Hope Agenda. The agenda’s emphasis on economic diversification, investment attraction, revenue generation and responsible resource management cannot be achieved without effective enforcement mechanisms.
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‎The Mining Marshals have become one of those mechanisms. Indeed, Dr. Alake left no room for ambiguity when he warned that “anyone, whether a uniformed personnel or a civilian, who seeks to frustrate the noble work of these Mining Marshals is an economic saboteur and will be treated as such.”

‎For doubters, the message was unmistakable: the Mining Marshals are not an experiment nearing its end; they are a strategic institution whose relevance is increasingly recognised at the highest levels of government.
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‎The endorsement also reflects the collective efforts of key stakeholders driving reforms within the sector. Credit must go to President Tinubu for providing the political will to tackle entrenched interests; to Dr. Dele Alake for championing far-reaching reforms in the mining industry; to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose ministry provides oversight for the NSCDC; and to the Commandant General of the Corps, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for providing leadership and institutional support that have enabled the Mining Marshals to flourish.
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‎At the operational level, the commitment of the Mining Marshals’ Commander and his officers deserves special recognition. Operating in difficult terrains and often confronting dangerous criminal networks, they have remained focused on duty despite pressures, threats and campaigns aimed at undermining their mission.
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‎Their resilience reflects a deeper sense of patriotism and selfless service. While others see mineral resources as opportunities for personal enrichment, the Marshals see them as national assets that must be protected for the benefit of all Nigerians.
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‎The commissioning of additional gun trucks is therefore not just a logistical upgrade; it is tangible proof that the Federal Government intends to strengthen, rather than weaken, the unit’s operational capacity.
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‎In many ways, the story of the Mining Marshals is a reminder that meaningful reforms often attract fierce resistance. Yet history shows that when courageous leadership is matched by dedicated public servants, reform ultimately prevails over sabotage.
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‎The Federal Government’s vote of confidence is the proverbial pat on the back, a well-deserved recognition for officers who have chosen service over comfort, duty over convenience, and national interest over personal gain. It is also a signal that their work is only just beginning.