The Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have formally written to Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, urging parliament to dismiss “false and disparaging” claims made against the unit by Kogi State lawmaker Abdullahi Danga.
The petition, dated July 24, 2026, and signed by Commander Attah Onoja, follows a parliamentary motion sponsored by Danga on Wednesday. The member for Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency urged the House to probe the unit’s operations, legal standing, and finances, accusing officers of exceeding their mandate, extorting licensed miners, making unlawful arrests, and engaging in financial misconduct.
Refuting the charges in an eight-page document, the special unit described the allegations as a deliberate attempt to undermine the Federal Government’s solid minerals reforms led by Minister Dr Dele Alake. Commander Onoja warned that while the unit respects parliament’s oversight role, such unfounded claims risk demoralising personnel operating in high-risk zones across the country.
“We hold in high regard the constitutional and oversight responsibilities of the National Assembly. However, the allegations contained in the motion are false and disparaging, and are capable of gravely discouraging officers and men who daily risk their lives to combat illegal mining in difficult terrains across the country,” the petition noted.
Addressing financial impropriety claims, the command denied mismanaging public monies, clarifying that it functions solely on modest logistical backing provided by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the NSCDC.
“The Mining Marshals have never received or diverted public funds as alleged. The unit operates with limited logistics support from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,” the document read.
The unit further revealed that Danga’s claims merely recycled earlier allegations made by a police officer, CSP Abdulmajeed Oyewumi. According to the petition, those charges were previously disproved through official newspaper rebuttals and bank statements. The Marshals added that Oyewumi faces potential criminal prosecution for allegedly helping foreign nationals on trial for illegal mining escape, suggesting this compromised background explains the motive behind the accusations.
Highlighting the success of its enforcement activities, the unit noted that crackdown operations have dismantled illegal mining camps, confiscated equipment, and secured prosecutions at the Federal High Court. The petition linked these enforcement efforts directly to a dramatic surge in national mining revenues, which climbed from roughly ₦6 billion in 2023 to more than ₦70 billion by June 2026.
Concluding the appeal, Onoja called on lawmakers and the public to reject efforts to discredit the unit’s work and reaffirmed their determination to uphold the law.
“We remain committed to sanitising the mining sector and enforcing the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, the Mining Regulations 2011 and other government policies aimed at ensuring a safer and better regulated mining industry,” he affirmed.