Abuja: The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals have issued a stern warning to illegal mining operators across the country, cautioning them to cease their activities or face imprisonment as determined by a court of law.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the mining marshal Commander, Attah Onoja, highlighted in an interview that offences related to illegal mining do not attract fines but instead lead to jail terms, subject to the discretion of a Federal High Court judge. Onoja noted, “You will hardly hear anything like fines in illegal mining offences although judgments and punishment are at the discretion of the court based on the circumstances of the case but I can assure you that the punishment is not palatable.”
Onoja further explained that the marshals are making an appeal to those involved in illegal mining to reconsider their actions. He pointed out that these individuals, who are yet to be arrested, still have the opportunity to change their ways and avoid the consequences faced by those previously apprehended for similar illegal activities. “The mining marshals is a non-compromising unit so when you are finally arrested you will face the full wrath of the law and these offences are Federal High Court offences that will keep you in jail for your active period,” he added.
Clarifying the role of the marshals and the NSCDC, Onoja stated that they are not involved in the allocation or renewal of mining licenses. Instead, they serve as statutory enforcement officers. He elaborated on the various types of mining operational licenses: the Exploration license, Small Scale Mining Lease (SSML), and the Mining license, each with specific validity periods and operational scopes.
Onoja further detailed that illegal mining is not solely defined by the absence of a license. Operators holding licenses could still be engaged in illegal activities if they exceed the scope of their licenses or operate in unauthorized locations. “You can have this three and be operating within their scope but in a different location not assigned to you, that’s illegal mining,” Onoja clarified.
