Foreign interests behind attacks on mining marshals — NSCDC commander

The Commander of the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), John Onoja, has alleged that foreign nationals involved in illegal mining activities are sponsoring attacks aimed at discrediting the Mining Marshals, while rejecting a police report linking one of his officers to over ₦2 billion in suspicious transactions following the death of an operative.

Onoja made the allegation in a statement issued in response to a viral publication titled “Nigeria Police Arrest Three NSCDC Officers over colleague’s Death, Trace Over ₦2 Billion To Suspect’s Bank Account.” He described the report as false and misleading, insisting that the account in question recorded transactions of less than ₦1 million in the past year.

According to him, the Zenith Bank account belonging to Jibrin Labaran showed a total debit of ₦760,457.25 and a total credit of ₦760,129.85 within the last year, largely reflecting the officer’s salary and emoluments. He said the figures contradicted claims in the purported police investigation report that more than ₦2 billion had passed through the account.

The Mining Marshals commander accused officers of Team N of the Force Intelligence Department (FID), led by CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi, of repeatedly interfering with the unit’s lawful operations in Nasarawa State. He alleged that the police team had consistently disrupted operations at a mining site for more than a year, arrested some operatives and attempted to frustrate prosecutions involving suspected illegal miners.

Onoja disclosed that he had written to the Inspector-General of Police requesting that the investigation into the death of Deputy Superintendent of Corps Agada Levi, an officer attached to the Mining Marshals, be transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) for what he described as an impartial review.

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He said the Mining Marshals supported Levi’s family after his death by setting up a burial committee and funding all burial arrangements, adding that friends of the unit later donated ₦3 million to the deceased officer’s widow.

The commander further alleged that foreign nationals whose illegal mining operations had been shut down were financing efforts to undermine the Mining Marshals. He specifically claimed that some Chinese nationals affected by enforcement actions in Nasarawa State were sponsoring a campaign against the unit and using police officers to advance their interests.

He also alleged that police officers accompanied foreign nationals during an attempt to arrest the lead prosecution counsel representing the Mining Marshals but were prevented from doing so by soldiers guarding the lawyer’s residence.

Onoja noted that Levi’s death was the first fatality recorded by the Mining Marshals since the unit was established more than two years ago. While expressing sadness over the officer’s death, he denied allegations that the management team had any involvement in the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We are not denying that Agada Levi died in the line of duty, sadly. But none of the Management Team of Mining Marshals knows anything about his death,” he said, accusing the police officer leading the investigation of pursuing “unfinished objectives” against the unit.

He urged the public to remain calm while the matter is reviewed by relevant authorities, expressing confidence that further investigation would establish the facts surrounding the case.