In a major crackdown on illegal mining, the Department of State Services (DSS) has confiscated seven trucks loaded with lithium ore in Ilorin, Kwara State. The operation was a joint effort between the DSS and the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
Coordinated Sting Based on Intelligence
The South-West Zonal Office of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, working with the DSS Kwara State Command, executed the seizure. This action is part of a broader national initiative to stop illegal mining and the theft of the country's mineral resources.
Engineer Ganiyu Wasiu Ajibade, the South-West Zonal Mine Officer, revealed that the operation was launched after credible intelligence was received. The intelligence indicated that a convoy of twelve trucks had been organized to illegally evacuate lithium ore from an active mining site in Saki, Oyo State.
The Route and Interception
Upon receiving the report, the Ministry quickly activated a coordinated surveillance and enforcement plan across several states. Security personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the DSS in Oyo State were mobilized. Surveillance teams in Kwara and Ogun states were also placed on high alert to monitor the trucks' movements.
Investigations showed that the convoy left Saki around 11:30 p.m. on January 8, 2026. It passed through Igbeti in the early hours of Friday and continued towards Ilorin, entering Kwara State at approximately 7:00 p.m.
Acting on real-time intelligence updates, security operatives moved to intercept the trucks. Between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., they successfully stopped seven of the trucks along the Okoolowo–Eyenkorin Expressway in Ilorin. One driver fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle, while the others were arrested and taken into custody for questioning.
Minister's Directive and Ongoing Scrutiny
The seized trucks were carrying large quantities of lithium ore, suspected to have been mined and transported in clear violation of Nigeria's mining regulations. Preliminary questioning of the drivers suggested they were hired by an individual to move the mineral consignment.
Ajibade stated that documents from the mining site and materials found in the trucks have been secured for further investigation. He also mentioned a curious detail: the operation was allegedly accompanied by personnel identified as mine marshals from Abuja, a claim currently under investigation by the authorities.
The zonal officer emphasized that this enforcement action aligns with the zero-tolerance policy declared by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, against illegal mining and resource theft.
"This operation sends a clear message that illegal mining activities will no longer be tolerated," Ajibade said. "The Ministry is fully committed to safeguarding the nation's solid mineral assets and ensuring that mining activities are conducted in line with the law."
He warned that surveillance and enforcement operations would be intensified across the South-West and other regions of Nigeria. The Federal Government is determined to clean up the solid minerals sector to maximize its contribution to the national economy.
The suspects are expected to be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution as the Ministry continues its nationwide fight against illicit mineral exploitation.
