UN, NSCDC partner to tackle illegal mining terror funding

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is pushing for deeper cooperation with Nigeria's specialized Mining Marshals unit. This call comes amid growing concerns about the increasing links between illegal mining operations, organized crime, and terrorism that plague Nigeria, West Africa, and the Sahel region.

A UNODC delegation visited the Mining Marshals Corps, where they praised the unit's expanding role in combating illegal mining and related criminal activities. Tullio Santini, Chief of the Africa Section of the UNODC's Terrorism Prevention Branch, noted that the rising number of arrests and prosecutions demonstrates Nigeria's dedication to curbing the illicit trade.

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The rising number of arrests and prosecutions is evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to tackling the illicit trade.

The visit was part of a broader UNODC mission to strengthen partnerships within Nigeria. A key focus was the introduction of the UNODC's Coordination through Operational Networks against the Crime-Terrorism Nexus (CONNECT) Initiative. This program, designed by Swedish Police expert Robert Haslinger, aims to bolster cooperation among governments and law enforcement agencies to disrupt the financial and operational ties connecting organized criminal networks and terrorist groups.

Nigeria has been invited to join the CONNECT Initiative, scheduled to launch in November 2026. Assistant Commandant of Corps John Attah, representing the NSCDC Commandant-General, welcomed the UNODC's partnership, acknowledging previous UNODC-supported training that significantly improved collaboration between the Mining Marshals and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. Attah advocated for the formal inclusion of the Mining Marshals in the CONNECT Initiative, emphasizing their unique position in Nigeria's security architecture and their role in disrupting the financial underpinnings of terrorism.

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The previous UNODC-supported training programmes had significantly improved collaboration between the Mining Marshals and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, enhancing the ability of both institutions to coordinate investigations and intelligence-led operations against illegal mining syndicates.