In a major blow to illegal mining activities, the South-West Zonal Office of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) Kwara State Command, has intercepted seven trucks suspected of illegally transporting lithium ore.

The operation was sparked by credible intelligence received on Thursday, January 8, 2026, suggesting that a convoy of 12 trucks was being used to move lithium ore from a mining site in Saki, Oyo State. The Zonal Mine Officer, Engineer Ganiyu Ajibade, coordinated with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and DSS units across Oyo, Kwara, and Ogun states to monitor the convoy's movement.

The trucks departed Saki late Thursday night and were tracked through Igbeti before moving toward Ilorin. Security teams finally apprehended seven of the vehicles between 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm on Friday along the Okoolowo-Eyenkorin Expressway in Kwara State. One driver reportedly abandoned his vehicle and fled, while the remaining drivers were taken into custody.

During interrogation, the arrested drivers claimed they were hired to transport the ore and alleged their operations were being monitored by a mine marshal personnel in Abuja. All documents issued at the mining site were recovered by the authorities for further investigation.

Engineer Ajibade emphasized that the crackdown aligns with the directives of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, who has maintained a zero-tolerance policy against mineral theft. He reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to protecting Nigeria's natural resources and warned that enforcement actions would be intensified nationwide.