Illegal miners attack patrol team in Niger, kill NSCDC officer, set vehicle ablaze

A security officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps lost his life on Thursday after suspected illegal miners attacked a joint patrol team in Zuzungi village, near Kataeregi in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State.

The assault also led to the destruction of a patrol vehicle used by the team.

The joint operation involved personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, local security operatives from the Anti-Drugs Control unit, and representatives of Millennium Metals Mining Company.

The team had reportedly moved to the area following reports of ongoing illegal mining activities.

The patrol formed part of wider efforts by the state government to curb illegal mining, including a recent sensitisation tour by the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Alhaji Mohammed Qasim Danjuma, who had warned residents against engaging in unlawful mining operations.

During Thursday’s raid, the illegal miners resisted arrest, leading to a violent confrontation in which the NSCDC officer was killed, and one operational Hilux patrol vehicle was set ablaze.

Reacting to the incident, NSCDC State Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, through Public Relations Officer DSC Abubakar Rabiu Muti, condemned the attack as criminal and barbaric, stressing that illegal mining constitutes economic sabotage under Nigerian law.

“The operations of the Corps in the mining sector are firmly backed by law, and mining sites are classified as Critical National Assets. Illegal mining threatens Nigeria’s economic stability,” he said.

The Commandant issued a strong warning to all individuals and groups involved in illegal mining: acts of violence or resistance against security personnel will not be tolerated.

He pledged that those responsible for the attack would be tracked down, arrested, and prosecuted, and called on local communities to provide credible information to aid investigations.

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