The Federal Government has arrested two suspected illegal miners and sealed an illegal gold mining site in Osun State as part of its ongoing crackdown on unlawful mining activities across the country.
The suspects, identified as Danladi Isa and Musa Kabiru, both casual workers in their twenties, were apprehended during a coordinated enforcement operation at an illegal artisanal mining camp in Ileki-Ijesa along the Ile-Ife–Ilesa Road. Authorities said the duo is cooperating with investigators by providing information that could lead to the arrest of those financing the illegal operation.
The raid was carried out by officials of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development from Ogun, Oyo and Osun states in collaboration with security agencies. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of illegal miners in the area.
The ministry said members of the Solid Minerals Task Force stormed the camp after receiving a tip-off. While several suspects escaped into nearby bushes upon sighting the enforcement team, two suspects were arrested and mining equipment used for the illegal activities was confiscated.
Officials also dismantled the miners’ operational bases and sealed the site in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act.
Items recovered during the operation included two motorcycles, pumping machines, Lister generators, mineral washing equipment, large hose pipes, gold-trapping carpets, cutlasses and other tools allegedly used for illegal mining.
Leading the operation, the Southwest Zonal Mines Officer, Ajibade Ganiyu, said the exercise was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to enforce compliance with mining regulations, protect the environment and prevent the illegal exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
He added that surveillance and enforcement operations would continue across the Southwest and other parts of the country to eliminate illegal mining and restore order to the sector.
Also speaking, the Osun State Mines Officer, Wasiu Adeboye, warned that sponsors and perpetrators of illegal mining should expect tougher enforcement, stressing that the government would sustain its operations until the menace is brought under control.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the Tinubu administration has made the sanitisation of the mining sector a national priority through stricter enforcement, regulatory reforms, intelligence gathering and community engagement.
According to the minister, the establishment of the Mining Marshals has strengthened enforcement efforts, resulting in the arrest of more than 300 suspected illegal miners, the prosecution of over 150 suspects—including foreign nationals—and the closure of several illegal mining sites nationwide.
Alake said the nationwide enforcement campaign is aimed at ensuring that Nigeria’s mineral resources are exploited through lawful, transparent and responsible mining practices.
He also urged traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups and residents of mining communities to support the government’s efforts by refusing to harbour illegal miners and by providing credible intelligence to security agencies and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
