The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two Chinese nationals and six Nigerians in connection with illegal mining operations in the Ogere area of Ogun State. The suspects were apprehended on Friday, 9 May 2025, during a coordinated sting operation by operatives from the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.
According to an official statement from the Commission, the arrests followed credible intelligence indicating the group’s involvement in large-scale illicit mining activities. After weeks of detailed surveillance, EFCC operatives moved in on the suspects, intercepting them at various locations in Ogere.
The individuals arrested have been identified as Zhang Hang Lin, Gao Pei Hai, Matthew Mathias, Oluwaseun Amoo, Wasiu Ademola Alao, Ajibola Nurudeen, Ibrahim Yinusa, and Saidu Shuaibu.
During the operation, investigators recovered significant evidence, including three trucks loaded with sacks containing substances suspected to be ground lithium powder, along with other yet-to-be-identified solid minerals. Lithium, a highly sought-after mineral used in batteries and other technologies, has been increasingly targeted in illegal mining schemes across Nigeria.
Additional items recovered from the suspects included a Toyota 4Runner SUV, mobile phones, samples of low-grade lithium, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, international passports, four LED flashlights, and assorted documents believed to be linked to the mining operations.
The EFCC emphasized that illegal mining activities not only deprive the country of critical revenue but also contribute to environmental degradation and undermine lawful economic enterprises. The Commission reiterated its commitment to intensifying its crackdown on economic sabotage and called for greater collaboration from members of the public through timely provision of actionable intelligence.
“The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” the EFCC stated, assuring that due process will be followed and those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
This latest operation underscores Nigeria’s growing challenges with illegal mining, particularly in mineral-rich states like Ogun, where both local and foreign actors are increasingly implicated in unauthorized resource extraction.
