Explosive Revelation: Police Fingered In Illegal Mining Cover-Up – NSCDC Demands Action

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has accused members of the Nigeria Police Force of sabotaging its operations against illegal mining in Nasarawa State, alleging that some police officers are shielding suspects and obstructing investigations.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The serious allegation was made by Attah John Onoja, Commander of the NSCDC’s Mining Marshals, in a petition dated June 2, 2025, submitted to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

According to Onoja, officers from the Force Intelligence Department (FID)—specifically under the leadership of CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi—have not only protected illegal mining suspects but also subjected NSCDC personnel to harassment, unlawful detentions, and even gunfire.

The petition recounts that in October 2024, the Mining Marshals, operating under Operation Hayakin Kogo, arrested several illegal miners, including Ali Tanko and his Chinese collaborators. The arrests followed a complaint by Capital Apex Synergy Global Ltd., which holds valid mining rights in Rafin Gabas, within the Kokona Local Government Area.

Onoja said the suspects confessed to operating without a license since 2021 and were subsequently charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja in cases FHC/ABJ/CR/577/2024 and FHC/ABJ/CR/131/2025.

However, the NSCDC claims that its effort to prosecute was disrupted when police operatives began interfering in the case and dispatched officers to the mining site.

“In one alarming incident on April 3, 2025, four armed police officers allegedly fired at NSCDC operatives. They were disarmed and handed over to the Police, along with their rifles,” Onoja revealed.

He further alleged that the Inspector General of Police failed to investigate this apparent attempt on their lives, drawing parallels to a similar event in February 2025, when police reportedly opened fire on NSCDC operatives at another illegal mining site in Ondo State.

On April 8, 2025, CSP Abdulmajeed allegedly returned to the Rafin Gabas site with about 30 police officers, where they were said to have assaulted and arrested four NSCDC personnel, seized their weapons and personal items, and tried to force them into falsely accusing their commander.

Onoja also claimed the Police secured a restraining order from the Federal High Court through an ex parte motion, making unsubstantiated accusations of illegal mining and even homicide against the NSCDC—without presenting a death certificate or any credible evidence. He described the order as “fraudulently obtained”, adding that the NSCDC has filed a motion to set it aside on the grounds of misrepresentation and jurisdictional errors.

The petition calls on the Senate Committee to hold a public hearing into the Police’s conduct and recommend disciplinary measures, including possible sanctions against CSP Abdulmajeed.

Furthermore, Onoja urged the Senate to enact protective legislation to ensure that the Mining Marshals can operate across Nigeria without undue interference.

He warned that CSP Abdulmajeed’s alleged threat to deploy the military to take over the protected mining site represents a grave abuse of power, capable of derailing ongoing legal proceedings.

To support their claims, the NSCDC submitted video evidence of the alleged threats along with annexures detailing communications between the NSCDC, Police, Nigerian Army, and legal teams.

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