The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ajao Adewale, has revealed that illegal mining has become a powerful cartel-driven enterprise bankrolled by influential Nigerians, fueling banditry and costing the country an estimated $9 billion (₦13.7 trillion) annually.

Speaking at a media parley organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council on “The Fight Against Illegal Mining: Role of the Media” in Abuja, Adewale described illegal mining as one of Nigeria’s most dangerous national security threats.

The police chief listed Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Osun and parts of the FCT as hotspots, noting that over 72 suspects had been arrested in Abuja alone between 2023 and 2024 for illegal mining activities. Adewale emphasized the need for collaboration between security agencies and the media to combat the menace of illegal mining.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, on his part disclosed that revenues accruing from the mining sector increased from a paltry N6 billion to over N38 billion within one year of the establishment of the Mining Marshal.

Onoja attributed the increase to the Marshals’ efforts in addressing illegal mining activities across the country.

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