The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, has commended the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, for his exceptional patriotism, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to combating illegal mining and restoring order within Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
The commendation came in Abuja during the maiden edition of the Women in Security Summit and Awards (WINSEC) 2026, where the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) honoured ACC Onoja with the Transformational Leadership Award in recognition of his remarkable contributions to safeguarding Nigeria’s mineral resources, strengthening security, and promoting national development.
Presenting the award, the Minister praised the Commander’s outstanding achievements since his appointment as the pioneer Commander of the Mining Marshals, noting that his leadership has significantly enhanced the protection of the nation’s strategic mineral assets.
Receiving the award, ACC Onoja dedicated the honour to the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, whose visionary leadership and institutional support led to the establishment and continued success of the Mining Marshals.
The Commander also reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to gender inclusion, emphasizing that the Mining Marshals are defined not by gender but by competence, discipline, resilience, professionalism, and patriotism.
He noted that despite the demanding and high-risk nature of operations against illegal mining, female operatives have consistently demonstrated exceptional courage and operational excellence. According to him, their growing contributions continue to strengthen the effectiveness of the specialised unit.
ACC Onoja further announced that more female NSCDC personnel will be integrated into the elite Mining Marshals squad in line with the gender-inclusive vision of the Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, whose academic background in Gender and Security Studies continues to shape the Corps’ commitment to equity, inclusion, and equal opportunity.
“The courage displayed by our female operatives in the field continues to prove that bravery, leadership, and operational excellence know no gender boundaries. Their growing presence within the Mining Marshals is both a strategic necessity and a powerful statement of the NSCDC’s commitment to building a modern, inclusive, and effective security architecture,” ACC Onoja stated.
The event attracted distinguished personalities from across Nigeria, including the First Ladies of Borno, Yobe and Bauchi States, senior serving and retired military and security officers, government officials, development partners, and other eminent Nigerians committed to advancing national security and sustainable development.
The recognition of ACC John Onoja Attah further reflects the growing impact of the Mining Marshals initiative in protecting Nigeria’s mineral wealth, combating illegal mining, and reinforcing the nation’s security architecture.