Niger: NSCDC Mining Marshals Seal 7 Illegal Mineral Centres, Arrest Four suspects

The Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have sealed seven suspected illegal mineral buying and processing centres in Kontagora and arrested four suspects over alleged violations of Nigeria’s mining laws.

The enforcement action was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Abuja by the Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Onoja. He said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal mineral trading networks and sanitise Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

According to the NSCDC, the operation was carried out on June 12, 2026, following credible intelligence that some companies were allegedly operating mineral buying centres without the required regulatory approvals.

The affected facilities include 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, as well as another mineral buying centre operating in the area.

The corps said four suspects connected to some of the companies were arrested during the operation.

Preliminary investigations, according to the statement, revealed that several of the firms were allegedly purchasing strategic minerals from unverified suppliers in breach of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011.

Investigators also discovered that representatives of some of the affected companies admitted buying Monazite from suppliers who presented only state or local government revenue receipts as proof of legitimacy.

The suppliers reportedly failed to produce essential statutory documents, including valid mining leases, Small-Scale Mining Leases, Licences to Purchase and Possess Minerals, Mineral Buying Centre Licences and other approvals required under Nigerian law.

The NSCDC further disclosed that officials of AL-YAMAN Global Concept Nigeria Limited and 17 Mines & Minerals Limited allegedly admitted purchasing minerals without verifying whether the suppliers had the legal authority to mine, possess or trade them.

According to the statement, investigators were also unable to obtain documentary evidence showing that some of the affected companies possessed valid licences authorising them to procure minerals from third parties.

The corps, however, recommended further verification of permits and approvals claimed by some of the companies with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and other relevant regulatory agencies.

The NSCDC said preliminary findings established prima facie evidence of regulatory non-compliance and reasonable suspicion that some of the minerals processed by the affected companies may have originated from illegal mining operations.

It recommended further investigation of the identified suppliers, legal review of the case, prosecution where criminal conduct is established and forfeiture of all recovered minerals to the Federal Government in line with existing laws.

The statement added that preliminary valuation of seized minerals, including Monazite, Iron Ore and Zircon, placed their worth at several millions of naira.

Reaffirming the commitment of the Mining Marshals to combating illegal mining, Onoja said the agency would sustain its enforcement operations against individuals and organisations undermining the nation’s mining industry.

“The crackdown forms part of our ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector, dismantle illegal mineral trading networks and ensure strict compliance with Nigeria’s mining laws,” he said.

He added that eliminating buyers of illegally mined minerals would significantly weaken illegal mining operations across the country.