Illegal Miners Kill NSCDC Officer, Burn Patrol Vehicle In Niger
A coordinated security patrol in Niger State faced a deadly ambush, leaving one NSCDC officer dead and a patrol vehicle destroyed by fire.
The incident took place around 12:30 p.m. in Zuzungi, Kataeregi, during an operation targeting illegal mining and mineral smuggling.
The patrol included officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and local Anti-Drugs Control (ADC) units, working alongside Millennium Metals Mining Company.
Authorities said the team had intercepted suspects allegedly moving solid minerals illegally when armed assailants attacked without warning. During the assault, the NSCDC Hilux patrol vehicle was set ablaze.
Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, Niger State NSCDC Commandant, described the attack as “barbaric and a blatant challenge to lawful authority and national economic security.”
Speaking through the Corps’ spokesperson, DSC Abubakar Rabiu Muti, he stressed that mineral-rich sites are considered Critical National Assets under Nigerian law.
Aniviye vowed that those responsible would face swift justice.
“We will hunt down and prosecute anyone involved in the killing or destruction. No one will escape accountability,” he said.
He also issued a stern warning to illegal miners, urging them to vacate unauthorised sites immediately.
“Continued defiance will trigger intensified enforcement and severe legal consequences,” Aniviye added.
The NSCDC confirmed that a manhunt for the attackers is underway and extended condolences to the family of the fallen officer.
Authorities are appealing to local residents to provide information that could aid the investigation.
“Violence against security personnel will not be tolerated. Anyone aiding illegal mining or smuggling will face full legal action,” Aniviye concluded.
