On June 23, 2025, we published an online article with the above headline. The publication in question reproduced certain allegations made by Comrade Ode Eshimuti, Secretary of the Mining Committee in Agwada Development Area of Nasarawa State, against ACC Attah John Onoja, the pioneer commander of the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

However, we have discovered that the allegations were not duly verified before publication. In line with the professional ethics and responsible journalism for which The Guardian is known, the newspaper respectfully states that the instant publication was not motivated by malice, bad faith, or spite against Mr Onoja, nor was it intended to impugn his integrity in any respect whatsoever.

The newspaper holds Onoja in high esteem and will not intentionally do or cause to be done anything that could expose him to public odium or lower his reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.

Accordingly, every allegation on the personality and or professional integrity of Onoja as contained in the subject publication is hereby fully and unreservedly retracted. In addition, we offer our unreserved apologies to Mr Onoja and regret any inconvenience the original article might have caused him.

The Guardian reaffirms its commitment to its abiding philosophy of Conscience, Nurtured by Truth.