The federal government has arrested two suspected illegal miners in Osun State as part of its ongoing nationwide crackdown on illegal mining activities.
The suspects, Danladi Isa and Musa Kabiru, both in their twenties, were arrested during a coordinated enforcement operation at an illegal artisanal mining site in Ileki-Ijesa, along the Ile-Ife/Ilesa Road.
Lara Owoeye-Wise, special assistant on media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
The statement said the officials from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Ogun, Oyo and Osun State offices carried out the operation in collaboration with security agencies.
The raid followed a tip-off, according to the ministry.
While some miners escaped into nearby bushes on sighting the joint task team, the two suspects were arrested. The ministry said both are already providing “useful information” that will help investigators identify their sponsors.
Equipment seized, site sealed
The statement said the enforcement team dismantled the major operational bases established by the illegal miners.
“Items recovered from the sites include two motorcycles, pumping machines, Lister generators, washing equipment, large hose pipes, gold-trapping carpets, cutlasses and other mining implements.
“The illegal site has been sealed off in accordance with the law,” it said.
Speaking during the operation, the Southwest Zonal Mines Officer, Ajibade Ganiyu, who led the team on the enforcement exercise, said the operation forms part of the federal government’s sustained efforts to enforce compliance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, protect the environment, safeguard lives and preserve the nation’s mineral resources.
He stressed that the ministry, under Mr Alake, remains committed to conducting continuous surveillance and enforcement operations across the Southwest and other parts of the country to eliminate illegal mining and restore sanity to the sector.
He reaffirmed the federal government’s unwavering determination to rid Nigeria of illegal mining and criminal elements exploiting the nation’s mineral resources.
Also speaking, the Osun State Mines Officer, Wasiu Adeboye, said the operation sends a clear message that illegal mining will no longer be tolerated, warning that sponsors, financiers and perpetrators of the illicit trade would continue to face the full weight of the law.
In his reaction, Mr Alake said that the Bola Tinubu administration has made the sanitisation of the mining sector a national priority through far-reaching reforms that combine stronger enforcement, regulatory reforms, intelligence gathering and community engagement.
He said the establishment of the Mining Marshals has significantly strengthened the government’s enforcement capacity, leading to the arrest of more than 300 illegal miners and the prosecution of over 150 suspects, including foreign nationals. He added that several illegal mining sites have been shut down across the country.
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He noted that the ongoing nationwide enforcement operations are part of a broader strategy to ensure that Nigeria’s mineral wealth benefits the country through lawful, transparent and responsible mining activities.
Speaking further, the minister said Nigeria’s firm stance against illegal mining reflects the growing continental resolve to promote responsible mineral governance, curb illicit exploitation of Africa’s mineral resources and maximise value addition for sustainable economic development.
He appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups and residents in mining communities to support the federal government’s efforts by refusing to harbour or shield illegal miners and by providing credible information 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 the government alone. Communities must become active partners in protecting their mineral resources,” Mr Alake said.
He assured Nigerians that the ministry will sustain intelligence-led enforcement operations across all mining corridors and continue working closely with security agencies to dismantle illegal mining networks and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
