The Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have shut down seven suspected illegal mineral buying and processing sites in Kontagora, Niger State. This action was taken due to possible breaches of Nigeria’s mining laws and mineral trading rules.
The Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Onoja, shared this news in a statement released on Friday in Abuja.
Onoja mentioned that this operation is part of ongoing efforts to tackle illegal mining and bring order back to the nation’s solid minerals sector.
The statement also revealed that four individuals connected to some of the closed sites were arrested.
The statement said, “The enforcement exercise, carried out on June 12, 2026, led to the closure of 17 Mines & Minerals Limited, LALO Mining Limited, AL-YAMAN Global Concept Nigeria Limited, SIMASS Mining & Trading Company Limited, YMJ Minerals & Mines Nigeria Limited, Dating Company Industry Limited, and another mineral buying facility operating in the area. Four suspects linked to some of the affected companies were also arrested.
“Preliminary investigations showed that this operation followed reliable information. It suggested that some companies were running mineral buying sites without the necessary approvals and were allegedly sourcing strategic minerals from unverified suppliers. This is against the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011.
“Investigators found that representatives of some of these companies admitted to buying Monazite from suppliers who only showed state or local government revenue receipts. They did not provide valid mining leases, Small-Scale Mining Leases (SSML), Licences to Purchase and Possess Minerals (LPPM), Mineral Buying Centre Licences, or any other required legal documents.”
The statement continued, saying that officials from AL-YAMAN Global Concept Nigeria Limited and 17 Mines & Minerals Limited also confessed to buying minerals without checking if their suppliers had the legal right to mine, possess, or sell those minerals.
“The report added that investigators could not find any documents proving that some of the affected firms had valid Licences to Purchase and Possess Minerals or Mineral Buying Centre Licences allowing them to buy minerals from other parties.
“It did, however, suggest further checks on the permits and approvals claimed by some of these companies with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and other regulatory bodies,” it noted.
The statement indicated that the investigation found clear signs of regulatory non-compliance. There is reasonable suspicion that some of the minerals processed by these companies may have come from illegal mining.
It recommended thorough checks on licences, investigations into identified suppliers, a legal review of the findings, prosecution if criminal activities are confirmed, and the seizure of all minerals recovered during the operation to the Federal Government, in line with existing laws.
The statement also mentioned that the preliminary value of the seized minerals, including Monazite, Iron Ore, and Zircon taken from the affected sites, was worth several millions of naira.
Onoja confirmed the operation and stated that the Mining Marshals would keep targeting illegal operators in the sector.
“The crackdown is part of our ongoing efforts to clean up the solid minerals sector, break down illegal mineral trading networks, and ensure strict compliance with Nigeria’s mining laws,” he said.
He added, “If there are no buyers for illegally mined minerals, illegal miners won't exist.”
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇