The Edo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has scored a significant operational breakthrough in its battle against economic sabotage, announcing the arrest of 15 suspects and the seizure of eight trucks laden with illegally mined solid minerals.
State Commandant Saidi Akintayo disclosed the results of a coordinated, intelligence-led crackdown conducted over two days, November 15 and 16, across the state.
According to Akintayo, the exercise targeted illegal mining activities that undermine state revenue, pollute the environment, and threaten local security. The operation on November 15 saw six trucks suspected of carrying illegally mined Kyline clay intercepted along the Benin–Sapele Road. Drivers and their assistants failed to present any valid authorisation or mining documentation, leading to a swift arrest of nine individuals linked to these shipments.
The list of those detained in connection with the Kyline clay haul includes: Tobilola Moses, Laseisi Adesegun, Olayinka Dimeji, Joshua Ojo, Peter Oliga, Owolabi Gabriel, Solomon Shedrach, Adela Tannimawo, and Ibrahim Habib. The seized vehicles were moved to the NSCDC exhibit yard for formal investigation and potential prosecution.
In a separate but contemporaneous sweep on the same day, the NSCDC Monitoring and Surveillance Unit intercepted two trucks transporting lithium via the Ogbemudia Farm axis on Auchi Road. The drivers’ paperwork was found to be “completely irreconcilable,” prompting the detention of four additional suspects: drivers Jimoh Mahmood and Abubakar Aminu, and their assistants Abdulmutallib Ibrahim, Nafiu Ibrahim, Mubarak Abdul, and AbdulKareem Nasir. These cases underscore the breadth of illicit mineral trade being tackled by Edo’s security agencies.
Earlier, on Saturday, a member of the public was apprehended near the CCA Construction axis on suspicion of involvement in the conveyance of stolen items, including a solar battery, generator, plasma television, and inverter chargers. The NSCDC did not name the individual in this report, but described the incident as part of the broader crackdown on theft and illicit trafficking of valuable equipment.
Commandant Akintayo condemned illegal mining as a destructive form of economic crime that exacts a heavy toll on state finances, the environment, and public safety. He stressed that the NSCDC would pursue due process and robust enforcement to deter future infractions, assuring that all arrested individuals and vehicles are under investigation and will be prosecuted in due course.
The NSCDC leader urged Edo residents to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities that could indicate illegal mining operations, unlicensed mining equipment, or the movement of stolen goods. He reaffirmed the command’s mandate to safeguard national assets and to curb illegal mining activities that compromise the state’s development and security.