UN Links Illegal Mining In Nigeria To Terrorism And Wider Insecurity

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has linked illegal mining in Nigeria to organised crime, terrorism and wider insecurity across West Africa and the Sahel.

The warning came during a visit by a UNODC delegation to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals in Abuja. The meeting focused on tighter cooperation against networks that use illegal mining to move money, weapons and influence.

Punch reported that the delegation was led by Tullio Santini, Chief of the Africa Section of the Terrorism Prevention Branch at UNODC. The Mining Marshals commander, John Attah, said the visit formed part of UNODC work to strengthen partnerships, engage development partners and review field operations.

Daily Post reported that the discussion centred on UNODC's Crime-Terrorism Nexus Initiative, led by law-enforcement expert Robert Haslinger, and on improving cooperation among governments and security agencies.

The NSCDC unit has been central to recent federal action against illegal mining sites. The new talks put the security concern beyond lost revenue and frame the sector as a route through which criminal groups can fund violence.

Sources: Punch, Daily Post