Mining Marshals Petition Reps Speaker Over Kogi Lawmaker’s Claims

The NSCDC Mining Marshals have asked House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to disregard allegations made against the unit by Kogi lawmaker Abdullahi Danga.

In an eight-page petition dated July 24, 2026, Commander Attah Onoja said the claims were false and politically motivated. Punch and Daily Post both reported that the petition followed Danga’s motion asking the House to investigate the unit’s operations, funding and legal status.

Danga had alleged that the Mining Marshals exceeded their mandate, detained licensed miners unlawfully, extorted operators, abused power and mishandled public funds. The unit denied the claims and said they could discourage officers working against illegal mining in difficult locations.

The petition said some of the allegations relied on earlier claims by CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi of the Force Intelligence Department. The Mining Marshals said those claims had already been rebutted with documents, including a bank statement and published rejoinders.

The unit also said it had not received or diverted public funds and operated with limited logistics support from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the NSCDC. It listed disruption of illegal mining sites, seizure of equipment, arrests and prosecutions as part of its record.

Sources: Punch, Daily Post