An Illegal group of miners have killed an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer while carrying out an enforcement operation targeting unlawful mining activities in Niger State.
The insurgents, who were well armed, were said to have opened gunfire on operatives of the NSCDC Mining Marshal who were carrying out a patrol based on intelligence indicating that illegal mining activities were taking place, including night-time operations, the gunshot hitting the head of the deceased and causing his death.
The assailant attacked the security team after resisting efforts to halt the illegal operation on Thursday at the Korokpa Village in Minna.
Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Muti, said, “Our Mining Marshal operatives were conducting a routine patrol at an illegal mining site when they were ambushed by suspected illegal miners and their collaborators.”
Multi explained that the suspects launched what he described as a coordinated and unprovoked assault immediately they sighted the security personnel in a bid to evade arrest and frustrate the enforcement operation, adding that the operatives immediately called for reinforcement to contain the situation and restore order.
“Unfortunately, one of the responding officers sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head during the exchange,” he added.
Muti further disclosed that the injured officer was rushed to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment but was later confirmed dead by medical personnel.
The NSCDC spokesperson did not state whether any arrests had been made following the attack.
He, however, indicated that further details of the incident would be released as investigations progressed.