Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Carmen Diego
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested eight persons and impounded six trucks allegedly involved in illegal mining activities along the Ilorin–Ogbomoso corridor spanning parts of Kwara State and Oyo State.
The arrests were carried out by personnel of the commission’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate after several days of intelligence gathering and surveillance operations targeting unlawful mineral excavation, processing and transportation networks operating within the axis. Officials disclosed that the suspects were intercepted on Saturday, February 20, 2026, during coordinated enforcement action aimed at disrupting illicit extraction activities in the region.
The operation brings the total number of individuals arrested by the EFCC’s Ilorin zonal command for suspected illegal mining offences to eighteen within the past one month, indicating what anti-graft authorities describe as an intensified crackdown on criminal exploitation of mineral resources across northern and southwestern extraction routes.
According to commission sources, the suspects were intercepted while transporting mineral consignments suspected to include lithium-bearing ores and kaolin deposits. The trucks were reportedly moving along the strategic mining transportation corridor connecting rural extraction sites to commercial processing and trading centres around Ilorin.
Preliminary investigations by EFCC operatives suggest that the arrested individuals allegedly operated without valid mining licences, environmental clearance certificates or statutory authorisation from relevant regulatory agencies overseeing solid mineral exploitation in Nigeria. Authorities said the absence of official permits raised concerns about environmental degradation, revenue leakage and the possible financing of unregulated mineral supply chains.
Nigeria possesses substantial deposits of strategic minerals such as lithium and kaolin, which are increasingly attracting commercial interest due to global demand for battery technology components and industrial ceramics production. However, security and regulatory agencies have warned that illegal mining networks often exploit weak monitoring infrastructure in remote communities to conduct unauthorised excavation, transport raw materials and evade taxation.
Officials stated that the operation was executed following credible intelligence reports that indicated the presence of organised illegal mining activities along the Ilorin–Ogbomoso route. Surveillance teams reportedly tracked suspected trucks for several days before launching the interception operation. The commission did not immediately release the identities of the arrested suspects, citing the need to complete preliminary investigative procedures.
The EFCC confirmed that the seized trucks were loaded with assorted mineral materials believed to have been extracted from unapproved mining sites. Samples of the mineral consignments have been taken for laboratory analysis to determine their exact composition and commercial classification. Investigators are also examining possible connections between the arrested individuals and wider illegal mining syndicates suspected of operating across state boundaries.
Illegal mining has become a growing concern for federal enforcement agencies due to its economic and environmental consequences. Authorities argue that unauthorised mineral extraction deprives the national treasury of legitimate revenue, fuels organised criminal networks and often results in ecological damage such as land degradation, water contamination and destruction of agricultural livelihoods.
Security analysts have noted that transportation routes linking rural mining zones to urban markets have increasingly been exploited by illicit operators seeking to move minerals discreetly. Enforcement agencies have responded by strengthening intelligence sharing mechanisms and increasing patrol operations around suspected smuggling corridors.
The commission reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on illegal mining networks nationwide. EFCC officials stated that ongoing investigations aim to identify collaborators, financiers and downstream buyers connected to the intercepted mineral cargo and the arrested suspects.
Upon conclusion of the investigative process, the suspects are expected to face prosecution in competent courts of law. The EFCC emphasised that all arrests were made in accordance with due process and constitutional provisions governing criminal investigation in Nigeria.
Illegal mining has generated recurring policy debates in Nigeria due to its intersection with rural poverty, youth unemployment and resource governance challenges. Some local communities have reportedly been drawn into informal mining operations due to limited economic opportunities, creating a complex enforcement environment for regulators.
However, federal authorities maintain that unregulated extraction activities undermine sustainable development objectives and expose communities to long-term environmental risks. Mining regulators have consistently urged operators to obtain legal permits, comply with environmental impact assessments and adhere to safety standards before commencing extraction activities.
The Ilorin–Ogbomoso mining corridor has previously attracted enforcement attention due to reports of clandestine mineral movement. Officials believe that criminal groups exploit the relative remoteness of certain rural settlements to conduct unauthorised operations before transporting materials to processing markets.
Residents within affected communities have expressed mixed reactions to the enforcement action. While some welcomed the crackdown, arguing that illegal mining had caused soil erosion and damaged farmland productivity, others cautioned that enforcement operations should also consider the livelihoods of individuals who may have been drawn into informal mining due to economic hardship.
The EFCC has urged members of the public to provide credible information that could assist ongoing investigations into illegal resource exploitation. The commission assured whistle-blowers of confidentiality and protection under relevant legal frameworks.
As investigations continue, security agencies are expected to expand monitoring activities along major mineral transportation routes across the country. Analysts suggest that sustained enforcement, combined with regulatory reform and community engagement, may be necessary to curb the growing prevalence of illegal mining operations.
The latest arrests underscore the federal government’s renewed focus on combating economic crimes linked to natural resource exploitation. Authorities have indicated that similar operations may be conducted in other regions where intelligence reports suggest the presence of unlawful mining networks.
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