Suspected illegal miners on Tuesday, February 11, launched a violent assault on a joint security patrol team in Kataeregi, in the Zuzungi area of Niger State, killing a police officer and setting an operational vehicle belonging to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ablaze.
The patrol team, made up of operatives from the NSCDC, the Nigerian Police Force, local Anti-Drugs Control officials, and personnel of Millennium Metals Mining Company, was carrying out a routine operation aimed at tackling illegal mining and the smuggling of minerals in the area.
The attack reportedly occurred when the team intercepted individuals allegedly attempting to move illegally mined minerals from the site.
Armed assailants were said to have descended on the security operatives, leading to the death of a police officer attached to the patrol.
The attackers also torched an NSCDC Hilux vehicle during the incident.
Confirming the development in a statement, the NSCDC Commandant in Niger State, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, condemned the attack, describing it as a barbaric criminal act and a direct challenge to national authority and economic stability.
He noted that mining locations are vital national assets and warned that illegal mining constitutes economic sabotage under Nigerian law.
The NSCDC, which serves as the lead agency in the protection of mining sites, declared zero tolerance for attacks on security personnel, stressing that those responsible would face charges including murder, arson, and conspiracy.
He added that a manhunt had been launched to track down the suspects.
Aniviye cautioned illegal miners to immediately cease operations and vacate unauthorized mining locations, warning that enforcement efforts would be intensified and violators prosecuted.
He expressed condolences to the family of the slain officer, the Nigeria Police Force, and the broader security community, assuring that justice would be pursued.
He also appealed to members of the public to provide useful information to aid investigations and urged communities around mining areas to cooperate with security agencies to restore calm.
The Corps reiterated its commitment to protecting lives, critical infrastructure, and the nation’s economic interests amid growing threats posed by illegal mining activities in the state.
The Niger State Police Command also confirmed the killing of one of its officers. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed in a statement that the Commissioner of Police had ordered an immediate investigation and directed that those behind the attack be apprehended.
“Report received on 11/2/2026 indicated that some miscreants/illegal miners attacked a joint security team attached to a company; millennium metals in Kataeregi, while on a routine patrol around the company business premises.
“The miscreants attacked the team, burnt the company patrol vehicle and unfortunately, a policeman was lynched to death, his firearm taken away and another was injured. The Commissioner of Police has ordered for an immediate investigation, arrest the perpetrators of this crime and ensure that the arm is recovered”, the statement read.
