Federal Government Seals Osun Gold Mine, Arrests Two Suspected Illegal Miners

In a coordinated enforcement operation, the Federal Government has shut down an illegal artisanal gold mining camp at Ileki-Ijesa, along the Ile-Ife–Ilesa Road, and arrested two suspects. The suspects, identified as Danladi Isa and Musa Kabiru, are currently cooperating with security agencies to help authorities identify the financial sponsors behind the illicit operation.

The raid was executed by a joint task force comprising officials from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development across Ogun, Oyo, and Osun states, alongside security personnel. While several workers fled into the surrounding bushes upon noticing the enforcement team, authorities successfully dismantled the primary operational base and confiscated a significant cache of mining equipment. Among the seized items were two motorcycles, Lister generators, pumping machines, mineral washing equipment, gold-trapping carpets, large hose pipes, and various industrial tools.

The Southwest Zonal Mines Officer, Ajibade Ganiyu, who spearheaded the operation, emphasized that the crackdown is part of a sustained nationwide campaign to enforce the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act. He noted that the ministry is dedicated to continuous surveillance to eradicate illegal mining, safeguard local environments, and protect lives. Corroborating this, the Osun State Mines Officer, Wasiu Adeboye, issued a stern warning to financiers and perpetrators of unlawful mining, stating that the government will continue to utilize the full weight of the law to bring the sector under control.

Reacting to the development, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, reaffirmed that sanitizing the mining sector remains a core priority of the current administration. He highlighted that regulatory reforms and the deployment of specialized Mining Marshals have drastically amplified enforcement capabilities nationwide, leading to the arrest of more than 300 illegal miners and the prosecution of over 150 suspects, including foreign nationals.

The minister, who also chairs the African Mineral Strategy Group, added that Nigeria’s rigorous approach aligns with a broader continental effort to curb the illicit exploitation of Africa’s natural resources and ensure local economies benefit from transparent mineral governance. Authorities have urged traditional rulers, community leaders, and local residents to support the government’s efforts by reporting illegal mining activities rather than harboring individuals involved in criminal operations.