By: Odeh Favour Adiya
The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three men over their alleged involvement in illegal mining and the unlawful transportation of suspected solid minerals in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The suspects, who were identified as Musa Abdullahi, 45, Aliyu Ibrahim, 20, and Ishaq Ibrahim, 51, were reportedly apprehended during a late-night, intelligence-led operation carried out by operatives of the Mines and Steel Unit attached to the command’s Special Patrol Team.
Addressing journalists at the NSCDC headquarters in Ilorin on Tuesday, the state Commandant, Abbas Mohammed, disclosed that the suspects are all indigenes of Keffi in Nasarawa State.
Commandant Mohammed stated that the trio were intercepted on Friday, May 22, 2026, at about 10:00 pm along the Jebba Expressway in the Okolowo area of Ilorin.
According to the NSCDC boss, the eagle-eyed operatives intercepted a heavy-duty truck bearing registration number DKA 990 XJ from Kaduna State, which was loaded with about 36 tonnes of substances strongly suspected to be lithium ore.
Preliminary findings by the corps revealed that the suspects completely failed to produce valid mining licences, waybills, or any other legal documentation authorizing the possession and transportation of the mineral resources.
Speaking further on the development, Mohammed described the operation as a major victory for the command, noting that the briefing was to officially inform the public of a significant operational breakthrough recorded in their sustained fight against illegal mining activities, economic sabotage, and the unlawful exploitation of the nation’s solid mineral resources.
The NSCDC boss further disclosed that full-scale investigations are currently ongoing to uncover the actual source and ownership of the suspected minerals, as well as to identify other key players connected to the illegal transaction.
He assured the public that the suspects would be swiftly prosecuted in accordance with the law as soon as the investigations are concluded.
While reaffirming the corps’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding critical national assets, Mohammed stressed that the Kwara State Command would sustain its aggressive operations against illegal mining and all other forms of criminal activities across the length and breadth of the state.
