According to a news report from the official EFCC Facebook page, operatives from the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested seven individuals for illegal mining activities and two others for attempting to bribe EFCC operatives with N1.2 million.

The arrests were made on Friday, 24 May 2024, in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, following credible intelligence and several days of surveillance. The suspects are Waliyu Abidoye, Abubakar Auwal, Abdulrauf Hakim, Sabiu Usman, Salihu Godwin, Dauda Mohammed, and Olalekan Aremu.

During the operation, five truckloads of assorted minerals suspected to include lepidolite, lithium, and other precious stones were seized. Investigations revealed that the suspects were unlicensed miners lacking the necessary authorisation to purchase and possess these minerals. They were also found to be evading payment of royalties to both federal and state governments.

Additionally, two other individuals, Faleti Waheed and Noah Olalekan, were arrested for offering a N1.2 million bribe to EFCC operatives in an attempt to secure the release of one of the seized trucks. The operatives, pretending to accept the bribe, arrested the duo at the point of transaction. Waheed, who claimed to be a manager at a filling station in Ogbomosho, had N995,500 on him, while Olalekan, who identified as a scavenger, was found with N201,000.

The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.