The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, has commended the Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals, Onoja Attah, for his patriotism and leadership in the fight against illegal mining across the country.
Suleiman-Ibrahim gave the commendation on Friday in Abuja while presenting the Transformational Leadership Award to Onoja on behalf of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists at the maiden edition of the Women in Security Summit and Awards 2026.
The minister said the Mining Marshals had played a significant role in protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources and restoring order to the solid minerals sector under Onoja’s leadership.
She said the commander’s efforts had drawn renewed attention to the need to protect the country’s mineral resources amid concerns over illegal mining and unlicensed operators.
“Your patriotism is legendary. Your contributions have been sparkling and have provided a huge boost to Nigeria’s mineral sector,” she said.
The minister recalled witnessing Onoja’s inauguration as the pioneer commander of the Mining Marshals, saying his performance had justified the confidence placed in him.
“I was at the table the day you were inaugurated as commander of the Mining Marshals, and it gladdens my heart that your exploits have been rewarding, encouraging and sparkling. Thank you for bringing sanity to the mining sector,” she added.
The award recognised Onoja’s contributions to combating illegal mining, protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources and strengthening security within the mining industry.
The Mining Marshals were established by the NSCDC to strengthen security operations in the mining sector and support efforts to curb illegal mining and other criminal activities associated with mineral exploitation.
Receiving the award, Onoja dedicated the honour to the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, whom he credited with providing the leadership that led to the establishment of the Mining Marshals.
He described the recognition as a tribute to the commitment and professionalism of officers and men of the specialised unit.
Onoja also announced plans to integrate female NSCDC personnel into the Mining Marshals, saying the initiative aligned with the corps’ commitment to gender inclusion and modern security practices.
According to him, the inclusion of women in the specialised task force would strengthen operational effectiveness while creating more opportunities for female officers to contribute to the protection of Nigeria’s mining sector.
The event attracted the first ladies of Borno, Yobe and Bauchi states, serving and retired security chiefs, government officials and development partners.
Former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, was also honoured for his contributions to security, peacebuilding and national development.
Participants at the summit described Onoja’s recognition as a reflection of the growing impact of the Mining Marshals in combating illegal mining and safeguarding Nigeria’s mineral resources.
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