Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested two suspects and uncovered an illegal gold mining operation in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. The operation, carried out by the Corps' Mining Marshals on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, followed credible intelligence and a petition alleging that mining activities were taking place within the coordinates of a valid exploration licence but outside the approved boundaries of the mineral title area.
The Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Onoja Attah, said operatives were deployed to the location after receiving the intelligence and the petition. They arrested the two suspects at what he described as an active gold extraction site. Preliminary investigations indicated that the mining activities were allegedly being conducted beyond the limits of any authorised mineral title area, raising concerns over possible regulatory violations and the unauthorised exploitation of Nigeria's mineral resources. The operation also followed concerns raised by residents about the environmental degradation and security threats associated with unregulated mining in the area.
The two suspects are currently in custody and are assisting investigators. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals who may be connected to the operation. Investigators are also examining the circumstances surrounding the activities at the site and the extent of possible infractions under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act. The NSCDC said the operation formed part of its broader efforts to sanitise the mining sector and protect legitimate mineral title holders from encroachment, environmental abuse and economic sabotage.
Attah warned that no part of the country would be allowed to serve as a safe haven for illegal miners. He said the Mining Marshals would continue to deploy intelligence-led operations, surveillance, investigations and prosecutions to dismantle criminal networks operating within the solid minerals sector. He stressed that compliance with the law remained the only sustainable path for operators, while those who violated mining regulations would face the full weight of the law. The operation was carried out in line with the directive of the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, who has instructed the Corps to intensify its fight against illegal mining and other forms of economic sabotage threatening Nigeria's national assets.
The latest arrest adds to the growing list of enforcement actions by the NSCDC Mining Marshals across the country. Since their establishment in 2024, the Marshals have arrested hundreds of suspected illegal miners and secured convictions in court. The Corps has also strengthened inter-agency collaboration and enhanced its operational intelligence as part of efforts to improve accountability and restore investor confidence in Nigeria's solid minerals sector. For the people of Gwagwalada, the operation offers a measure of relief from the environmental and security consequences of illegal mining. For the suspects in custody, it is the beginning of a legal process that could end in prosecution. For the Mining Marshals, it is another step in a long campaign to ensure that Nigeria's mineral wealth benefits the nation, not criminal networks.
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