Capital Apex Synergy Global Services, a licensed mining company, has called on President Bola Tinubu and relevant federal authorities to urgently intervene in a prolonged mining dispute in Rafingaba, Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, which it claims has cost the firm billions of naira.
At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the firm’s spokesperson, Aliyu Zubairu, accused a rival company of illegally encroaching on a mining site legally licensed to Capital Apex.

According to him, despite having valid mining documents and court orders in its favour, Capital Apex’s operations remain blocked by continued interference from the rival firm and alleged complicity by security operatives.

“This dispute is no longer just a corporate issue. It threatens investor confidence, undermines the rule of law, and casts doubt on Nigeria’s seriousness about developing its mining sector,” Zubairu stated.

He explained that Capital Apex legally acquired two Small Scale Mining Licences—SML Nos. 036868 and 037075—originally issued to Bajas Nigeria Limited, through a due transfer process approved by regulatory authorities.

In addition, the company has entered into a technical partnership with a foreign investor and invested heavily in the site’s development. Despite these efforts, Zubairu said the rival firm continues to occupy the site unlawfully.

 He presented a range of documents—including mining licences, ministerial correspondences, and a High Court injunction dated March 11, 2025—showing that Capital Apex is the rightful holder of the disputed mining area.

However, he alleged that the firm in quest has disregarded these directives and continued mining activities in violation of the law.
He said: “We’ve met every regulatory requirement—secured community consent, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and complied with directives from the Ministry of Solid Minerals.  Yet, we’re being denied access to our legally licensed site.”

He further claimed that efforts by the host community to seek redress have also been ignored.
According to him, the host community petitioned the Mining Cadastral Office, requesting the revocation of the rival’s licence (SML No. 619) for overlapping coordinates and alleged misrepresentation. Zubairu also raised serious concerns about the role of security agencies in the dispute.

While the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), through its Mining Marshals, reportedly supports Capital Apex based on verified documentation, he alleged that the Nigeria Police Force appears to be siding with the rival firm.

He said, “Let it be on record—there was no form of inducement. The NSCDC acted strictly based on legal documents and ministerial directives. Unfortunately, the police have continued to frustrate our operations, creating tension and putting our personnel at risk.”

As a result of the impasse, the company said it has been forced to halt all development activities on the site and is only maintaining a limited security presence.

Zubairu warned that the continued disruption poses grave risks to staff safety, job creation prospects, and foreign investment inflow into Nigeria’s mining sector.

He said, “Each day we are unable to operate results in lost revenue, loss of jobs, and a worsening perception of Nigeria as a hostile environment for investors.”

Meanwhile, the Senate has commenced an investigation into a petition filed by the NSCDC Mining Marshals, alleging an assault on its officers by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force at the same disputed mining site.

The petition, submitted by Commander John Onoja Attah, detailed an incident that occurred on April 3, 2025, in which four NSCDC officers—Yarima Yunusa, Hasuruna Lamshi, Oliver Kutaya, and Raymond Ibrahim—were reportedly assaulted and unlawfully detained by officers from the Force Intelligence Department (FID).

According to the petition, the NSCDC officers were deployed to protect the disputed site following its closure in October 2024.

However, police personnel allegedly stormed the area, opened fire on them, arrested the officers without cause, and attempted to portray them as aggressors.

“The actions of the police not only endangered lives but also undermined Nigeria’s ongoing fight against illegal mining and mineral theft,” the petition read.

A source within the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions confirmed that the affected officers have been summoned to testify in a hearing scheduled for later this week.

The unfolding events have raised alarm over inter-agency conflict, the rule of law in the extractive sector, and the wider implications for peace and investment in mineral-rich regions of the country.