The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has established a strong connection between banditry and illegal mining across the country.
This revelation was made by the NSCDC Commandant-General (CG), Ahmed Audi, during his first quarterly meeting with senior officers at the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Audi disclosed that investigations had uncovered collaboration between illegal miners and suspected bandits, who exploit mining sites as hideouts for criminal activities.
“These criminals collude with illegal miners, using our environments as cover to unleash terror and plunder our nation’s resources.
“This is a serious issue that demands our immediate and strategic intervention. We must rethink our approach and strengthen our operations,” he stated.
The NSCDC Commandant-General emphasised the need for the corps to intensify its efforts by adopting more robust security strategies.
He urged senior officers to demonstrate greater commitment to their duties, stressing that the Federal Government had been providing continuous support to help the corps fulfil its mandate.
“The government has been providing various forms of support to enhance our operations. It is our duty to reciprocate by giving our best.
“We must actively implement our mandate by protecting critical national assets and infrastructure and ensuring the safety of all Nigerians,” he said.
Audi highlighted the importance of regular performance appraisals within the corps to assess the effectiveness of its security strategies.
“We need to review our current methods, assess the results achieved, and identify challenges.
“From there, we can develop strategies to overcome these challenges and determine the best course of action,” he explained.
He also emphasised the growing complexity of security threats, particularly those posed by asymmetric conflicts such as oil theft, vandalism, and farmer-herder clashes.
“The insurgency has evolved into terrorism, which has further escalated into kidnapping and hostage-taking.
“It is crucial that we remain vigilant and proactive in countering these threats,” he warned.
The meeting underscored the NSCDC’s commitment to tackling illegal mining and its role in fueling insecurity, while reinforcing efforts to safeguard national resources and public safety.
