In a significant move to sanitize Nigeria’s troubled mining sector, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has shut down an illegal quarry operating within the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Thirteen suspects linked to the unauthorized operation have been arrested and are currently facing prosecution, according to a statement issued by Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Attah John Onoja, Commander of the Mining Marshals.
The illegal site had reportedly been operating for over seven months under the guise of a company exploiting a quarry lease that belongs to another licensed mining firm, without any legal approval, environmental compliance, or safety protocols.
“This operation underscores our zero tolerance for illegality in the Nigerian mining sector,” Onoja stated. “We will not allow individuals or companies to trample on the rights of legitimate operators.”
The NSCDC’s Mining Marshals, a specialized unit established to combat illegal mining and safeguard critical national assets, have been intensifying surveillance and enforcement efforts nationwide. These measures follow mounting concerns about the rise of unregulated mining, which has caused significant revenue loss, environmental damage, and insecurity across various regions.
The Kuje operation is emblematic of the broader strategy championed by the NSCDC’s Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, who has tasked the corps with restoring lawfulness and transparency in the extractive sector.
The targeted quarry was found to be operating without safety or environmental safeguards, posing severe risks to public safety and ecological stability in the area.
Authorities confirmed that all 13 suspects are in custody and will be formally arraigned in court soon. The NSCDC reiterated its commitment to identifying and prosecuting all violators in line with the national push to reform and formalize the mining sector as a key pillar of economic diversification.
“The era of impunity in Nigeria’s mining sector is over,” Onoja declared. “We urge all operators to ensure compliance with legal and environmental standards or face the consequences.”
