19 Arrested, Stolen Rifle Recovered After Deadly Attack on Security Team in Niger State

Security operatives in Niger State have arrested 19 suspected illegal miners and recovered a stolen rifle following a violent attack on a joint patrol team in Zuzungi Kataeregi village.

The incident occurred on Wednesday when a joint security team came under attack while on routine patrol around a mining site operated by Millennium Metals Mining Company. During the assault, a police officer was lynched, his firearm stolen, and a patrol vehicle set ablaze.

Confirming the development on Friday, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, stated that reinforcements were immediately deployed to the area, leading to the arrests and recovery of the weapon.

“Report received on 11/2/2026 indicated that some miscreants/illegal miners attacked a joint security team attached to a company Millennium Metals in Zuzungi village Kataeregi, while on a routine patrol around the company business premises,” Abiodun said.

“The misdreants attacked the team, burnt the company’s patrol vehicle and unfortunately, a policeman was lynched to death, his firearm taken away and another was injured.”

He added that the Commissioner of Police swiftly deployed reinforcement to the area, resulting in the arrest of 19 suspects and recovery of the rifle on February 12.

“All suspects arrested are under investigation at the SCID Minna. Further development will be communicated,” Abiodun stated.

NSCDC Condemns Attack

In a separate statement, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Siyaka Aniviye, condemned the attack, describing it as “criminal, barbaric, and a direct assault on constituted authority and Nigeria’s economic stability.”

Aniviye explained that the joint patrol team comprised personnel from the NSCDC, the Nigeria Police Force, and local security operatives known as the Anti-Drugs Control unit. He said they were on a lawful operation to curb illegal mining and prevent the unlawful smuggling of solid minerals from the site.

“While intercepting individuals suspected to be illegally smuggling extracted minerals from the mining area, the security team came under heavy attack by armed illegal miners,” Aniviye said.

“During the incident, the assailants set ablaze one operational Hilux vehicle belonging to the NSCDC security team. Regrettably, an officer paid the supreme price in the line of duty.”

He maintained that mining sites and solid mineral resources are designated as Critical National Assets under Nigerian law, adding that illegal mining constitutes economic sabotage.

Minister Vows Crackdown

The Federal Government has vowed to intensify its crackdown on illegal mining following the incident. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Thursday described the killing of the security officer as a “criminal murder” and pledged that those responsible would be tracked down and prosecuted.