The Commander of the Mining Marshals, an enforcement unit under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps), Attah John Onoja, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, alleging a coordinated attempt by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) to weaken and discredit the anti-illegal mining outfit.
In a 16-page petition dated May 27, 2026 and received at the Force Headquarters on May 29, Onoja accused a unit within the Police FID, known as “Team N,” of orchestrating what he described as a sustained campaign against the Mining Marshals. The petition was also copied to the Presidency, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (Department of State Services), and other key security institutions.
The complaint centres on the death of Guard Commander Agada Levi, who was shot on February 18, 2026 at the Rafin Gabas mining site in Kaduna State. Onoja said the incident followed a distress call, after which Mining Marshals personnel intervened and all guards on duty were initially taken in for questioning. The victim later died in the early hours of February 19.
According to the petition, an internal investigation spanning over three months identified two guards—Hosea Habila and Jibrin Labaran—as suspects based on witness accounts, though no clear motive was established. Onoja, however, suggested that external actors may have been involved and alleged that some police operatives had interests in the disputed mining site.
A key part of the petition stated that the deceased officer’s family had expressed satisfaction with how the matter was handled, including support provided during burial arrangements. Onoja said the unit contributed about ₦8 million in total assistance, including ₦5 million for funeral expenses, ₦3 million for the widow, and an additional personal donation of ₦400,000. He also claimed that employment opportunities were secured for two family members.
Despite this, Onoja alleged that the Police FID later arrested one of his officers, Iwodi Obochi, on May 20, 2026 without prior notice to the NSCDC leadership and detained him incommunicado until lawyers intervened. He further alleged that two senior officers—Assistant Corps Superintendent Ibrahim Ayefu and Superintendent of Corps Simeon Anyebe—were also arrested before the NSCDC could formally respond to police invitations.
He described the arrests as unlawful and accused the FID of extending criminal allegations of conspiracy and culpable homicide to management staff who, according to him, had no operational role in the incident.
The petition also referenced earlier clashes between Mining Marshals and police operatives at mining locations, including alleged violent encounters in Rafin Gabas, Kaduna State, in April 2025 and at Ogunlepa in Ondo State in February 2026. Onoja claimed earlier complaints were ignored, suggesting a pattern of unresolved inter-agency tensions.
He urged the Inspector-General to order the release of detained officers, withdraw further invitations issued to NSCDC personnel, and review past incidents involving alleged shootings of Mining Marshals operatives in Kaduna and Ondo States.
Onoja emphasized the need for cooperation between security agencies, stating that rivalry undermines national security and public trust.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force and its Force Intelligence Department had not issued an official response to the allegations.
