The Federal Government says its intensified crackdown on illegal mining has resulted in the arrest of two suspected illegal miners during an enforcement operation at a mining site in Osun State.
The operation was led by the Southwest Zonal Mines Officer, Ajibade Ganiyu, and carried out by officials of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development from Ogun, Oyo and Osun states in collaboration with security agencies.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development’s Special Assistant, Lara Owoeye-Wise, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Owoeye-Wise, the operation targeted illegal artisanal mining camps located at Ileki-Ijesa along the Ile-Ife/Ilesa Road.
She said authorities confiscated mining equipment and other tools used in the illegal activities, while dismantling the miners’ operational bases.
Commenting on the operation, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the Tinubu administration remained committed to sanitising the mining sector through reforms that combine stronger enforcement, improved regulation, intelligence gathering and sustained community engagement to tackle illegal mining across the country.
Alake said the establishment of the Mining Marshals had significantly enhanced the government’s enforcement capacity, resulting in the arrest of more than 300 suspected illegal miners and the prosecution of over 150 suspects, including foreign nationals. He added that several illegal mining sites had also been shut down nationwide.
The minister explained that the ongoing nationwide enforcement campaign forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to ensure that Nigeria’s mineral resources are exploited through lawful, transparent and responsible mining practices.
Alake, who also chairs the African Mineral Strategy Group (AMSG), said Nigeria’s tough stance against illegal mining reflects a growing continental commitment to promoting responsible mineral governance, curbing the illicit exploitation of Africa’s mineral resources and maximising value addition for sustainable economic development.
He appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups and residents of mining communities to support the government’s efforts by refusing to harbour or protect illegal miners and by providing credible intelligence to security agencies and the ministry.
“Illegal mining destroys the environment, fuels insecurity, deprives the nation of legitimate revenue and undermines the livelihoods of law-abiding miners.
“The fight against this menace cannot be won by government alone. Communities must become active partners in protecting their mineral resources,” he said.
According to the minister, the ministry will continue intelligence-driven enforcement operations across mining corridors nationwide while strengthening collaboration with security agencies to dismantle illegal mining networks and ensure offenders are prosecuted.
He added that the latest operation sends a clear message that there will be no safe haven for illegal miners or their sponsors, stressing that the government’s resolve to sanitise the mining sector and reposition it as a key driver of Nigeria’s economic growth remains unwavering.
