The Mining Marshals have arrested five men over alleged illegal mining activities and impersonation in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, authorities have said.
The suspects were arrested on 27 December 2025 at Kebi Mangoro, Kuje Area Council, following what officials described as a credible intelligence tip-off on ongoing illegal mining operations.
Those arrested were identified as Muhammed Aliyu, 39; Abdulrahman Hashimu, 32; Tahir Muhammed, 43; Awaje Abduljalal, 19; and Kabiru Adamu, 38.
According to the Mining Marshals, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were involved in operating multiple illegal mining sites across Abuja and neighbouring Nasarawa State. Investigators further alleged that the group deployed a privately owned Toyota Hilux vehicle branded with the colours and insignia of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to evade security checkpoints and intimidate stakeholders.
Officials said the suspects confessed to the offences during interrogation. One of them, who identified himself as a manager, reportedly told investigators that their operations were directed by one Alhaji Mohammed Dahiru Salihu, popularly known as Mundasa of Mundasa Global Limited, who is currently at large.
The suspect claimed that only Mr Salihu could explain why the group lacked the requisite licences and statutory documentation required to operate in the solid minerals sector.
In a further twist, the Mining Marshals disclosed that while investigations were ongoing, intelligence reports indicated that the principal suspect and other accomplices still at large allegedly approached the nominal complainant — the lawful mineral title holder on whose concession the arrests were made — in an attempt to compromise and undermine the investigation.
This alleged interference, officials said, was formally documented by the investigation team and will form part of the evidentiary materials for prosecution, alongside the suspects’ confessional statements, which authorities stressed were obtained voluntarily and without duress.
The Mining Marshals expressed particular concern over what they described as the growing security threats associated with illegal mining, especially the impersonation of security agencies.
They noted that the use of an NSCDC-branded Hilux vehicle by the suspects posed a direct risk to public trust and national security.
Although the suspects were temporarily released on bail following an application by their counsel, Douglas Najime of Chatham Partners, the Mining Marshals said investigations were ongoing.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s zero-tolerance policy against illegal mining, ACC John Onoja Attah, Commander of the Mining Marshals, assured that the suspects would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
Mr Attah said the case would be prosecuted strictly in line with the Mining Marshals’ Standard Operating Procedures, adding that the NSCDC would not relent in its resolve to sanitise Nigeria’s mining sector and dismantle all networks involved in illegal mining activities nationwide.