Group Urges NSCDC to Retain Commander Attah John Onoja to Sustain War Against Illegal Mining

NSCDC SHOULD CONTINUE TO RELY ON PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP OF COMMANDER ATTAH JOHN ONOJA TO CURB ILLEGAL MINING —SOLID HANDS INITIATIVE

The National Coordinator of Solid Hands Empowerment Initiative for the Development of Rural Areas, Comrade Ogunleye Gbolabo, has called on the National Leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to continue to rely on the professional, disciplined and result-oriented leadership of Assistant Commandant of Corps Attah John Onoja, Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, in tackling the menace of illegal mining in Nigeria.

Comrade Gbolabo noted that ACC Attah John Onoja, whose name is often also written as John Onoja Attah, has consistently displayed a high level of professionalism, loyalty and respect for constituted authority. He stressed that the Commander always seeks and obtains approval from the Commandant-General and the higher authority of the NSCDC before embarking on any operation.

He further stated that ACC Onoja has never sabotaged or rebelled against the Corps, but has remained absolutely loyal, committed and dedicated to the national leadership of the NSCDC under the visionary leadership of the Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi.

The Coordinator expressed absolute confidence in the leadership of ACC Onoja and urged the Commandant-General to continue to entrust all strategic operations against illegal mining to him.

Comrade Gbolabo cited some of the landmark achievements recorded under ACC Onoja's leadership to justify the call. According to him, the Mining Marshals under Onoja have identified over 460 illegal mining sites and successfully recovered more than 100 sites which have been handed back to legitimate license holders. He disclosed that over 387 suspects have been arrested for illegal mining and economic sabotage, with more than 150 already facing prosecution in court.

He added that the operations have led to a huge revenue boost for Nigeria, moving annual revenue from the solid minerals sector from just N6 billion before 2024 to N38 billion in 2025, with a projection to hit N80 billion in 2026. He further noted that Onoja has professionally linked illegal mining to terrorism financing, banditry and kidnapping, and has dismantled several criminal strongholds in Nasarawa, Zamfara, Niger, Kogi and other mineral-rich states.

Comrade Gbolabo also recalled that despite blackmail and false allegations of N2 billion diversion and complicity in an operative's death, a comprehensive investigation ordered by the Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, fully cleared ACC Onoja of all allegations, while two errant operatives who supplied arms to illegal miners were dismissed.

He concluded that with such a track record of integrity, loyalty and operational excellence, ACC Attah John Onoja remains the best asset for the nation in the war against illegal mining and economic sabotage.