In Niger State, illegal miners launched a deadly attack on a joint security patrol on Thursday, killing a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer and setting an operational Hilux vehicle on fire during an anti-illegal mining operation.
The incident took place in Zuzungi village near Kataeregi in Bosso Local Government Area while the patrol, composed of personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, and local Anti-Drugs Control operatives (ADC), was enforcing laws against unauthorized mining activities. The operation was conducted in collaboration with Millennium Metals Mining Company.
Prior to the enforcement, the Ministry of Mineral Resources, led by Commissioner Alhaji Mohammed Qasim Danjuma, had visited the area to sensitize residents and operators to cease illegal mining. Acting on intelligence that the activities continued, the security team was met with violent resistance, resulting in the death of the NSCDC officer and the destruction of the patrol vehicle.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, through the Corps’ Public Relations Officer, DSC Abubakar Rabiu Muti, condemned the attack as criminal and barbaric. He stressed that mining sites and solid mineral resources are critical national assets, and illegal mining constitutes economic sabotage under Nigerian law.
Aniviye reiterated that the NSCDC leads the protection of mining sites in collaboration with other security agencies and warned that all perpetrators of illegal mining, smuggling, or attacks on security personnel would be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted. He added that those responsible for the recent attack would be tracked down with no safe haven for the culprits and appealed to local communities to provide credible information to aid ongoing investigations.
