UNODC and Nigeria's Mining Marshals collaborate against illegal mining and terror funding
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC has urged greater collaboration with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC Mining Marshals due to increasing concerns about the links between illegal mining, organized crime, and terrorism across Nigeria, West Africa, and the Sahel. During a visit to the Mining Marshals Corps, a UNODC delegation, led by Tullio Santini, Chief of the Africa Section of the Terrorism Prevention Branch, commended the unit's efforts in tackling illegal mining. Assistant Commandant of Corps John Attah, Commander of the Mining Marshals, stated that the rising arrests and prosecutions demonstrate Nigeria's commitment to combating illicit trade. The visit was part of a broader UNODC mission to strengthen partnerships in Nigeria. A key focus was the introduction of the UNODC Coordination through Operational Networks against the Crime-Terrorism Nexus CONNECT Initiative by Robert Haslinger, a law enforcement expert from the Swedish Police. This initiative aims to strengthen cooperation among governments and law enforcement agencies to disrupt financial and operational links between organized criminal networks and terrorist groups. Nigeria is among the countries invited to participate in the CONNECT Initiative, scheduled for launch in November 2026. Attah, representing NSCDC Commandant-General Prof Ahmed Audi, welcomed the UNODC delegation, highlighting that previous UNODC-supported training improved collaboration between the Mining Marshals and t
