The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Edo State has detained 15 individuals and confiscated eight trucks loaded with illegally mined minerals during a crackdown across the state, officials confirmed on Monday.
State Commandant Saidi Akintayo said the arrests followed intelligence-driven operations conducted on 15–16 November. Six trucks carrying Kyline clay were intercepted along the Benin–Sapele Road, with drivers and assistants failing to provide proper authorisation, resulting in nine arrests.
In another operation, two trucks transporting lithium along the Ogbemudia Farm axis of Auchi Road were stopped, and four suspects detained after the documentation presented was deemed invalid. Earlier, a man was also arrested near CCA Construction for transporting allegedly stolen goods, including a solar battery, generator, and plasma TV.
Akintayo described illegal mining as a serious economic offence that harms revenue, the environment, and public security. The seized vehicles and detained suspects are now under investigation at the NSCDC exhibit yard ahead of prosecution. He called on residents to report any suspicious activities, reaffirming the corps’ dedication to curbing illegal mining across Edo State.
