In a major enforcement action against illegal mining activities, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Department of State Services (DSS), Kwara State Command, have successfully intercepted seven trucks suspected of transporting lithium ore without proper authorization in the South‑West region of Nigeria.
The coordinated, intelligence‑led operation was carried out on the night of January 8, 2026, and culminated in the seizure of the vehicles along the Okoolowo–Eyenkorin Expressway, Ilorin, between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
How the Interception Unfolded
According to Engr. Ganiyu Wasiu Ajibade, the South‑West Zonal Mine Officer of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, credible intelligence revealed that a convoy of 12 trucks was mobilized to clandestinely transport lithium ore from an active mining site in Saki, Oyo State.
After receiving the intelligence on January 8, the Ministry promptly engaged the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and DSS in Oyo State, and directed its surveillance teams in Kwara and Ogun States to track the suspicious convoy’s movement.
The convoy reportedly departed Saki around 11:30 PM, passed through Igbeti early the following morning, and made its way toward Ilorin by approximately 7:00 PM.
Seizure and Arrests
Security operatives intercepted seven of the trucks as they advanced through Kwara State late Friday night. One driver managed to evade arrest, abandoning his vehicle, while the remaining drivers were taken into custody.
Preliminary questioning revealed that the drivers were reportedly hired by an individual to transport the lithium ore, and all accompanying documents issued at the mining site were recovered during the operation.
Government Response and Enforcement Stance
The Ministry’s action aligns with directives from the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, who has consistently emphasized a zero‑tolerance approach to illegal mining and mineral theft across Nigeria.
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Engr. Ajibade reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s mineral resources, warning that intensified surveillance and enforcement efforts will continue as part of efforts to protect Nigeria’s strategic solid minerals.
What This Means for Nigeria’s Mineral Sector
Lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronics, and renewable energy technologies, has recently become a focus of both legal mining investment and illicit extraction in parts of Nigeria. While there have been multiple past enforcement actions targeting illegal mineral trafficking in Kwara, Oyo, and other states, the arrest of these seven trucks demonstrates the federal government’s resolve to curb unlawful mineral extraction and transport.
Authorities are expected to hand over the detained suspects and seized trucks to appropriate enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution under Nigerian mining and economic crimes laws.
