UNODC links Nigerian illegal mining to terrorism, urges NSCDC action
UNODC said illegal mining in Nigeria is linked to organised crime, terrorism and insecurity across West Africa, after a meeting on Monday with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals. The UNODC Africa Section terrorism prevention chief, Tullio Santini, led the delegation and highlighted the NSCDC Mining Marshals' enforcement unit as vital in combating illegal mining.
The discussion centred on the UNODC Crime-Terrorism Nexus Initiative, coordinated by Swedish Police expert Robert Haslinger, which aims to strengthen government and law-enforcement cooperation to break the financial and operational ties between criminal networks and terrorist groups. Commander John Onoja Attah, speaking for NSCDC Commandant General Ahmed Abubakar Audi, noted that past UNODC-supported training had already boosted collaboration between the Mining Marshals and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Illegal mining provides revenue that funds terrorist activities, threatening communities nationwide. Readers should be aware of the connection between illicit mineral extraction and security risks, consider reporting suspicious mining activities to authorities, and support coordinated efforts that disrupt the crime-terrorism nexus.