The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has vowed to intensify efforts to combat illegal mining by going after financiers, mineral buyers, corrupt public officials and other individuals benefiting from the illicit exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said illegal mining was being sustained by organised criminal networks involving local and international collaborators, stressing that arresting workers at mining sites alone would not end the practice.
Olukoyede made this known on Tuesday while delivering a keynote address at a public lecture and capacity-building workshop organised by the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda in Ilorin, Kwara State.
He explained that illegal mining operations involved several players, including those providing financial backing, arranging transportation and documentation, purchasing illegally extracted minerals and offering protection to the criminal activities.
“Therefore, dealing with illegal mining involves breaking an impregnable chain of fraudulent actors: young men carrying shovels, their financiers, buyers of the minerals, compromised officials facilitating the operation, beneficiaries from the proceeds and other actors,” the EFCC chairman stated.
He said the commission’s strategy would go beyond arresting individuals at mining locations to investigating financial transactions, tracing proceeds and identifying those sponsoring and benefiting from the illegal trade.
Olukoyede disclosed that the EFCC handled 52 illegal mining cases between October 2023 and July 2026, resulting in the forfeiture of 102 tonnes of solid minerals.
He, however, clarified that the commission was not responsible for regulating the mining industry or issuing mining licences, noting that its involvement was limited to investigating corruption, fraud, money laundering, illicit financial transactions and proceeds of criminal activities.
According to him, financial investigations were essential to tackling illegal mining because proceeds from the illicit trade eventually passed through bank accounts, business transactions, payments and asset purchases.
The EFCC chairman also warned that illegal mining posed a threat to national security, explaining that uncontrolled mineral extraction and trading could fuel criminal activities such as extortion, smuggling, violence and territorial conflicts.
“Once criminal interests begin to control economic activity in a community, the consequences can extend far beyond lost royalties,” he cautioned.
He further warned that public officials who abused their positions to facilitate illegal mining, manipulate licences or launder proceeds from mineral theft would face investigation.
Olukoyede called for stronger collaboration among mining regulators, financial intelligence agencies, law enforcement bodies, customs authorities and revenue agencies to improve intelligence sharing and ensure coordinated investigations.
He also urged traditional rulers, community associations, youth organisations, civil society groups and local leaders to create effective channels for reporting suspicious mining activities.
The EFCC boss reaffirmed the commission’s determination to investigate those financing and facilitating illegal mining, trace proceeds of the crime, recover illicitly acquired assets and prosecute suspects where sufficient evidence existed.
He maintained that Nigeria’s mineral resources should serve the interests of its citizens rather than enrich criminal networks.
