EFCC intercepts six trucks, arrests eight for alleged illegal mining in Kwara

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended eight individuals and impounded six trucks suspected of involvement in illegal mining activities. 

The arrests occurred along the Ilorin-Ogbomoso axis, a critical corridor connecting Kwara and Oyo states.

The operation, carried out on Saturday, February 20, 2026, was the culmination of days of intensive surveillance and credible intelligence regarding the unlawful excavation and transportation of minerals across the two states. 

This latest crackdown brings the total number of persons arrested by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate for mining-related offenses to 18 within the last thirty days.

During the weekend interception, the suspects were found in possession of six truckloads of assorted solid minerals, primarily suspected to be lithium and kaolin. 

Lithium, a high-demand green mineral, is essential for battery production, while kaolin is a versatile clay used in several industrial processes.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the anti-graft agency revealed that the suspects were allegedly operating without the mandatory licenses, permits, or regulatory approvals required under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act.

The EFCC noted that such activities not only deplete the nation’s natural resources through unauthorized channels but also bypass the legal fiscal frameworks designed to benefit the Federation Account.

The commission confirmed that the suspects will be formally arraigned in court as soon as the ongoing investigations are finalized. 

This persistent enforcement highlights the Federal Government’s intensified efforts to sanitize the solid minerals sector and curb the activities of unauthorized miners who exploit the region’s mineral wealth.