The Federal Government has clamped down on suspected lithium ore thieves after security agencies intercepted seven trucks illegally transporting the mineral in Kwara State.
The operation was carried out by the South-West Zonal Office of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), Kwara State Command, following credible intelligence reports.
Speaking to journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Zonal Mines Officer, Mr Ganiyu Ajibade, said the incident started when information reached his office on Friday, January 9, 2026, that lithium ore was being moved secretly from the South-West.
According to him, as many as 12 trucks had been mobilised to cart away lithium ore from an active mining site in Saki, Oyo State, without proper clearance. Once the alert was raised, Ajibade said he immediately contacted the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the DSS in Oyo State, while officers in Kwara and Ogun states were placed on high alert to track the trucks.
âWe were able to intercept seven of the trucks between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. along the OkoolowoâEyenkorin Expressway in Kwara State,â Ajibade explained. âOne driver escaped and abandoned his truck, but the others were arrested.â
He added that during questioning, the drivers admitted they were hired by a private individual to transport the lithium ore. They also revealed that their movement was accompanied by Mine Marshal personnel from Abuja. All documents issued at the mining site were recovered by the authorities.
Ajibade made it clear that the operation was carried out in line with the directive of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, who has repeatedly warned that the Federal Government will no longer tolerate illegal mining or mineral theft.
Why This Matters
Lithium has become one of Nigeriaâs most valuable solid minerals due to its increasing demand worldwide, especially for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage. Sadly, illegal mining and unauthorised transportation continue to cost the country billions of naira in lost revenue while damaging local communities and the environment.
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has intensified surveillance and enforcement across mining corridors to stop this trend and ensure Nigeria benefits fully from its natural resources.
Ajibade assured Nigerians that more arrests would follow, stressing that anyone involved in illegal mining or mineral trafficking should expect the full weight of the law.
