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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, has said that its Mining Marshals have arrested no fewer than 671 suspected illegal miners, with 397 already charged before the Federal High Court.
The corps also revealed that convictions have been secured as part of the federal government’s intensified crackdown on illegal mining.

The Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC Attah John Onoja, made the disclosure on Monday while representing the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, at an event in Abuja.

According to him, the Mining Marshals, established by the federal government in 2024, have disrupted numerous illegal mining sites across the country, shut down illegal operations, seized mining equipment and restored several mining locations to their legitimate licence holders.

He attributed the arrests to the professionalism of the Mining Marshals, robust inter-agency collaboration and sustained support from the Federal Government.

Onoja revealed that the renewed enforcement efforts have significantly improved compliance with mining regulations and contributed to increased government revenue from the solid minerals sector.

He further called for dedicated budgetary support, deployment of surveillance technology, establishment of a national mining intelligence situation room and the designation of special Federal High Court judges to expedite the prosecution of illegal mining cases.
Quoting the Solid Minerals Development Fund, SMDF, he said revenue from the mining sector rose by 337 per cent between 2023 and 2026, increasing from about N6 billion in 2023 to over N70 billion by June 2026. He noted that the figures corroborate earlier reports crediting the federal government’s mining reforms for attracting investments and boosting earnings.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, called for practical solutions to illegal mining, insecurity and illicit financial flows while the Ad-hoc Committee Chairman on Mineral Exploitation, Security and Anti-Money Laundering at the House of Reps, Sanni Abdulraheem, called for more collaboration among security agencies, regulatory institutions, mining operators and host communities to end illegal mining.

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A UK coroner has ruled that Beatrice Solomon, a 27-year-old Nigerian caregiver who arrived in Britain in 2023, died by suicide after battling mental health challenges.

Ms Solomon was found unresponsive at her home on Norris Road, Stanfield, Stoke-on-Trent, on 4 March 2026. Her husband, Damian Butler, discovered her when he returned briefly from his delivery job.

Delivering her conclusion at the inquest, Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor said Beatrice Solomon had researched and planned how to end her life. A post-mortem examination by pathologist Dr Jones found she died from oxygen deprivation.

Mr Butler told the hearing that his wife had been struggling with her mental health for around a year. He linked some of her difficulties to ongoing issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He also disclosed that she had made two previous suicide attempts.

Emergency services were called to the property but Ms Solomon, a mother-of-one, was pronounced dead at the scene at 18:21. Staffordshire Police ruled out any third-party involvement.

Beatrice Solomon moved to the UK from Nigeria in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa and was working as a caregiver. She is survived by her husband, young son and siblings.

This tragic case draws attention to the significant mental health challenges faced by many migrant workers in the UK’s care sector. Relocating to a new country, cultural adjustment, separation from family, and demanding shift work can place immense emotional strain on individuals.

Public health experts have highlighted that African and other migrant communities often encounter additional barriers to mental health support, including stigma, language issues, and limited access to culturally sensitive services. Despite the vital contribution of international caregivers to the NHS and social care system, tailored wellbeing support remains inconsistent.

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Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised an ISWAP cameraman and recovered video recordings indicating the presence of three foreign terrorist facilitators, including a Palestinian identified as the group’s trainer and a Moroccan serving as a medical doctor for the insurgents.

The Acting Military Information Officer, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, the operational success was recorded on Saturday after troops foiled an infiltration attempt by members of the Islamic State West Africa Province into Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Goni said the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position and loot cholera medical supplies.

“The neutralisation of a terrorist cameraman during the failed assault led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing highly sensitive recordings of terrorist activities, including operational footage and propaganda materials.

“Preliminary forensic analysis of the last available video recorded before the attack indicates that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders (Qai’ds), alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators.

“They include a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, assessed to be ISWAP’s overall trainer; a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, a medical doctor serving within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be established,” Goni added.

Goni said the presence and active involvement of the foreign nationals reinforced intelligence assessments that ISWAP continued to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages.

Goni said the failed attack occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on July 11, 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position.

“Alert troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, compelling the terrorists to abandon their mission of looting cholera medical supplies and withdraw in confusion after suffering severe losses,” he said.

According to him, the attempted looting lends further credence to recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist enclaves, as well as reports that some infected members had been executed by the group.

The statement added, “Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray.

“The successful defence of the location further demonstrates the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North-East theatre.

“Following the successful engagement, troops immediately dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations to ascertain the full extent of the terrorists’ losses.”

The Army spokesman said troops recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat equipment during the operation.

He added that initial analysis of post-engagement satellite imagery showed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their slain fighters during their withdrawal.

“This has since been corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, which confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, with many others sustaining gunshot wounds during the engagement,” he said.

According to him, two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight and were promptly evacuated by air for advanced medical care. He added that both personnel remained in stable condition.

“The failed infiltration attempt represents yet another significant operational setback for ISWAP and caps a costly weekend for the terrorist group following sustained offensive operations and intensified military pressure across the North-East theatre,” he said.

Goni added that the outcome underscored the increasing difficulty terrorists face in executing coordinated attacks against highly alert and combat-ready troops, while further degrading their combat capability, morale and freedom of action.

“Operation Hadin Kai remains resolute in sustaining offensive operations, protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling terrorist networks until lasting peace and security are fully restored across the North-East,” he assured.