Mining Marshals Deny ₦2bn Fraud Claim, Accuse Police Officer of Campaign to Undermine Operations
Mining Marshals Deny ₦2bn Fraud Claim, Accuse Police Officer of Campaign to Undermine Operations
Fresh controversy has emerged over the ongoing dispute between the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals and operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Department (FID), as a senior source within the Mining Marshals has dismissed allegations linking detained officers to over ₦2 billion in suspicious bank transactions and accused a police officer of orchestrating a campaign to discredit the specialised anti-illegal mining unit.
The rebuttal follows widespread media reports alleging that three NSCDC officers were arrested by the Police over the death of a colleague and that investigators traced more than ₦2 billion to the bank account of one of the suspects.
However, a senior Mining Marshals source with direct knowledge of the matter told TimesNG that the reports is false, misleading and part of a broader effort to weaken the operations of the elite security unit.
According to the source, bank records relating to one of the detained officers, Jibrin Labaran, showed total transactions far below the amount being circulated in media reports.
“The Zenith Bank account being referenced contains total debit transactions of ₦760,457.25 and corresponding credits of ₦760,129.85 within the period under review. The claim that over ₦2 billion was traced to the account is completely false,” the source said.
The source alleged that the controversy is linked to a long-running dispute involving operatives of the Police FID Team N and Mining Marshals personnel over the enforcement of anti-illegal mining operations at a disputed mining site.
According to the source, a senior FID officer, CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi, had allegedly been involved in several confrontations with Mining Marshals operatives over mining enforcement activities.
The source claimed that in previous incidents, police operatives allegedly attempted to gain control of the site, which was being preserved as evidence in ongoing criminal proceedings involving illegal mining activities.
The Mining Marshals further alleged that previous arrests of their personnel at the site required interventions from senior police authorities before the affected officers were released.
The source also accused certain foreign nationals involved in illegal mining activities of sponsoring campaigns aimed at undermining the Mining Marshals’ operations, an allegation that could not be independently verified.
Providing details of the recent arrests, the source stated that one of the detained officers, Iwodi Obochi, was arrested on May 20, 2026, from his residence without prior notification to his office or family.
The source further claimed that two other officers, Simeon Anyebe and Ayefu Ibrahim, were later detained after visiting a relative of the late officer, DSC Agada Levi, to ascertain whether the family had initiated any separate complaints concerning the matter.
According to the source, the officers were subsequently handed over to FID operatives and detained.
The Mining Marshals source also alleged that despite a directive from the Inspector-General of Police ordering the release of the officers, implementation was delayed until senior intervention from the Deputy Inspector-General overseeing the FID.
At the centre of the dispute is the death of DSC Agada Levi, who was fatally shot on February 19, 2026, during an operation linked to illegal mining activities in Nasarawa State.
The source said the Mining Marshals immediately launched an internal investigation into the incident and identified two suspects who remain in custody pending prosecution.
According to the source, the unit fully funded the deceased officer’s burial, provided financial support to his widow, and facilitated employment opportunities for members of the family.
The source maintained that the deceased officer’s family had expressed appreciation for the support received from the Mining Marshals and had not filed any complaint against the organisation.
Call for Independent Investigation
The source disclosed that the Mining Marshals had formally requested the Department of State Services (DSS) to take over investigations into the matter, arguing that previous interactions between the Police FID team and Mining Marshals personnel could create perceptions of bias.
The source further called for a review of the conduct of officers involved in the investigation and urged security authorities to ensure transparency and fairness in handling the case.
The allegations are coming amid heightened scrutiny of illegal mining activities and ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to curb mineral theft and strengthen regulation of Nigeria’s mining sector.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi had issued an official response to the allegations.
TimesNG reports that the matter remains under investigation, and efforts to obtain comments from the relevant authorities were ongoing.
By TimesNG