EFCC arrests 18 in Kwara for illegal mining, seizes trucks of lithium, marble

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested 18 suspects in Ilorin, Kwara State, for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities.

The agency disclosed this in a statement on X.com on Friday, stating that the operation was carried out in collaboration with a patrol team from the Nigeria Customs Service and the Kwara Area Command.

The statement revealed that the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate carried out the arrests on Tuesday and Thursday while acting on intelligence reports about the transportation of illegally mined minerals along the Eiyenkorin-Ballah route in the Asa Local Government Area of the state.

The statement partly read, “13 truckloads with assorted solid minerals suspected to be lithium, marble stone, white powder, and lepidolite, among others, were also arrested and recovered from the suspects.

The suspects are Saidu Madugu, Adamu Amadu, Lawal Ibrahim, Mohammed Mustapha, Abdulkarim Hassaini, Isiaka Abubakar, Shafiu Salisu, Abdullahi Yanda Isa, Bashiru Mohammed, Anas Saidu, Asa Bature, Abudu Sani, Jabir Salisu, Bello Muhammed, Habilu Idris, Fatai Abdullai, Isyiaka Hamidu, and Oseni Lukman.”

Similarly, the Ilorin Zonal Command reportedly conducted an operation on June 5, which resulted in the arrest of eleven suspects and the seizure of eight trucks for related offences.

The statement added that the suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.