Misconduct: NSCDC Wields Big Stick, Dismisses 2 Mining Marshals, Sanctions 77 Personnel, Arrests 12

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has wielded the big stick against erring personnel, sanctioning 79 officers and men for various acts of professional misconduct while arresting 12 suspects over illegal arms dealing and vandalism of critical national assets.

In a major outcome of investigations into the controversial death of Mining Marshals Location Commander, Levi Agada, the Corps also cleared the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja, the lead prosecutor and other members of the unit’s management team of allegations of complicity, cover-up and diversion of funds, declaring that the claims against them were false and unsupported by evidence.

The sweeping disciplinary actions, announced on Wednesday by the Commandant General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, underscore what the NSCDC described as its commitment to transparency, accountability, professionalism and zero tolerance for corruption, indiscipline and compromise.

Speaking through the Corps’ national public relations officer, Babawale Afolabi, Audi disclosed that disciplinary proceedings had been concluded against 75 personnel, while four others are still undergoing administrative processes.

The affected personnel according to him comprised one Assistant Commandant General (ACG), two Deputy Commandants (DCs), 35 senior officers and 37 junior officers.

According to the Commandant General, the sanctions imposed include dismissal, compulsory retirement and recommendations for criminal prosecution, in line with the Public Service Rules and the NSCDC Conditions of Service.

He said the affected personnel were found culpable of offences ranging from job racketeering, illegal recruitment, financial misconduct, theft and absence without official leave to professional negligence, acts prejudicial to state security and other breaches of service discipline.

Audi said one of the most prominent cases involved the February 18, 2026 operational incident at Rafin Gabas in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, which resulted in the death of Mining Marshals Location Commander, Levi Agada.

He said investigations established that two Mining Marshals operatives, Hosea Habila and Jibrin Labaran, engaged suspected illegal miners with firearms without operational authorisation, contrary to the Corps’ operational procedures.

According to him, although investigators found no evidence of premeditated intent against the deceased officer, the conduct of the two operatives amounted to grave misconduct, professional negligence and behaviour prejudicial to the discipline and operational integrity of the Corps. Consequently, both officers have been dismissed from service and recommended for criminal prosecution.

Audi added that the investigation exonerated the Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Onoja, the lead prosecutor and every member of the unit’s management team, affirming that they neither authorised nor participated in the actions that led to the incident.

He said comprehensive findings established that allegations linking Onoja and his management team to a cover-up, diversion of funds or any form of complicity lacked factual basis, insisting that the disciplinary measures were directed solely at officers found culpable after due process.

In a related development, the NSCDC boss disclosed that four personnel are currently facing disciplinary proceedings by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), working in conjunction with the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, over alleged illegal arms dealing.

The officers are Superintendent Tesie Victor Nnamdi of Enugu State Command, Assistant Superintendent II Okwuruinya Uchenna and Assistant Superintendent II Obaji Sampson of Ebonyi State Command, while Superintendent Achor Favour of Nasarawa State Command is separately undergoing administrative proceedings over allegations relating to the treatment of a teenage domestic helper.

Audi also announced the arrest of 12 suspects in separate operations targeting illegal firearms trafficking and vandalism of critical national assets. Nine suspects, including three NSCDC personnel, were arrested over alleged illegal firearms and ammunition dealing in Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi and Niger states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

He further disclosed that in another operation, operatives of his crack squad intercepted six suspected vandals conveying a trailer-load of vandalised railway sleepers concealed in a blue DAF truck with registration number ZAR 618 XT at Sabon Wuse on July 25. Similarly, Raphael Danjuma and Isaac Zegbe were arrested for allegedly vandalising electrical installations and cables in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Commandant General maintained that the misconduct of a few personnel would not define the image of the Corps, stressing that the overwhelming majority of officers remain committed to professionalism, discipline and the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.

He assured that all affected personnel and suspects would continue to enjoy their constitutional right to due process and fair hearing as administrative and judicial processes continue, while urging Nigerians to sustain their support for security agencies by providing credible intelligence to combat vandalism, illegal mining, arms trafficking and other threats to national security.