In a well-coordinated intelligence-led operation, the South-West Zonal Office of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) Kwara State Command, intercepted seven trucks suspected of illegally transporting lithium ore within the region.
The operation, executed on the night of January 8, 2026, was prompted by credible intelligence that alerted authorities about the illegal movement of the mineral.
Engineer Ganiyu Ajibade, the Zonal Mine Officer for the South-West, confirmed the interception during a briefing, emphasising that the crackdown followed intelligence about a convoy of 12 trucks mobilised from an active mining site in Saki, Oyo State, heading towards unknown destinations with illegally mined lithium ore.
Ajibade revealed that, upon receiving the alert, the Ministry acted immediately by engaging both the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the DSS to track the convoy’s movement. He directed surveillance teams to monitor the trucks as they passed through Oyo, Kwara, and Ogun States, anticipating the convoy’s route.
The operation revealed that the convoy left Saki at 11:30 PM on January 8, proceeding towards Igbeti and continuing towards Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, by 7:00 PM the following day. Between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM, seven trucks were intercepted along the Okoolowo–Eyenkorin Expressway in Kwara. One driver managed to escape, abandoning his vehicle, while the others were apprehended.
Upon questioning, the arrested drivers admitted to being hired by an individual to transport the lithium ore. They also revealed that a military personnel in Abuja had been accompanying them during the illegal operation. All relevant documentation from the mining site was recovered during the arrest, further strengthening the case against the individuals involved.
Engineer Ajibade stressed that this operation is part of the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against illegal mining, as directed by Dr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development. He emphasized that the Ministry remains steadfast in its resolve to protect Nigeria’s valuable mineral resources from illegal exploitation.
Ajibade said, “The operation serves as a clear message that the government will not tolerate illegal mining activities and mineral theft in the country. We are committed to ensuring that perpetrators face the full weight of the law.”
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening enforcement efforts across the country to curb illegal mining activities. The successful interception and arrests signal that such operations will be ramped up to ensure that Nigeria’s mineral resources are safeguarded for the benefit of the nation.