The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Halogen Group have called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, regulators, private security operators and host communities to strengthen mining security and curb illegal mining across Nigeria.
The call was made at the 8th edition of the NSCDC Lagos Public Relations Clinic, held in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, September 17, 2026, with the theme, “Collaborative Security as a Paradigm for Mining Security.”
The event brought together security professionals, government representatives, academics, private-sector operators, community representatives and media practitioners to examine emerging security challenges within Nigeria’s mining sector.
Speaking at the clinic, the Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, said mining security had gone beyond protecting individual mining sites to safeguarding national economic interests, host communities and the environment.
Keshinro, who appreciated Halogen Group for partnering the Command on the programme, said the collaboration demonstrated the importance of building stronger relationships between regulators and private security operators.
He said no single agency could effectively address the security challenges associated with illegal mining, stressing the need for intelligence sharing, technology, strategic communication, community engagement and coordinated enforcement.
According to him, mining security involves protecting a critical component of the national economy, preventing economic sabotage, ensuring environmental compliance and denying criminal elements access to resources that could finance other forms of criminality.
The Commander, NSCDC Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps Attah John Onoja, said the specialised unit had recorded significant operational gains since its establishment in 2024.
Onoja disclosed that the Mining Marshals had arrested more than 600 suspected illegal miners, recovered over 100 illegal mining sites and commenced prosecution of more than 500 suspects. Recent reports have also cited 671 arrests and 397 cases before the Federal High Court as of July 2026.
He attributed the progress to the NSCDC’s emphasis on collaboration, cooperation and coordination, adding that community intelligence, inter-agency cooperation and private-sector support had strengthened the fight against illegal mining.
Onoja said collaboration had helped the Mining Marshals improve operations, seal illegal mining sites and restore some recovered locations to legitimate investors, while contributing to greater order within the sector.
The Mining Marshals commander urged stakeholders to move beyond isolated operations and establish a sustained national framework involving security agencies, regulatory authorities, private companies and host communities.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Operations and Services, Halogen Group, Mr Bosun Sosanya, said private security companies should operate as force multipliers for government security agencies rather than as separate entities.
Sosanya called for joint training between NSCDC personnel and Halogen officers, saying improved capacity, technology, intelligence and coordinated field operations would strengthen the protection of Nigeria’s economic assets.
Professor Adedeji Oyenuga of the Department of Sociology, Lagos State University, also advocated stronger stakeholder collaboration, particularly greater community involvement, noting that effective cooperation could improve intelligence gathering, emergency response and targeted enforcement.
The panel session, moderated by Miss Cyndy Ezeh, further examined the role of government agencies, private security operators, mining communities and other stakeholders in addressing security challenges in the sector. Participants included Mr Femi Kayode, Chairman, ASIS; Mr Charles Keku, Managing Director, Pahek Security Services; Comrade Adedotun Adewale, Lagos State Chairman, Scrap Dealers Association; and representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
The clinic also featured representatives of the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Waterways Authority, SOL, GLI, Realtor Max and other organisations. The programme ended with participants calling for sustained collaboration, improved professional capacity and stronger stakeholder engagement to promote safer and more accountable mining operations across Nigeria.