OGERE, May 10 (AGCNewsNet) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two Chinese nationals and six Nigerians in connection with illegal mining operations in Ogere, a town in Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria.

In a statement released Friday, the anti-graft agency said the arrests followed credible intelligence and a detailed surveillance operation conducted by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.

The suspects—Zhang Hang Lin, Gao Pei Hai, Matthew Mathias, Oluwaseun Amoo, Wasiu Ademola Alao, Ajibola Nurudeen, Ibrahim Yinusa, and Saidu Shuaibu—were apprehended during a sting operation targeting their mining activities.

EFCC operatives recovered three trucks loaded with sacks suspected to contain ground lithium powder, along with other unidentified solid minerals. The agency also seized a Toyota 4Runner SUV, mobile phones, samples of low-grade lithium, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, international passports, four LED flashlights, and various documents.

“The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.

Illegal mining has become a growing concern in Nigeria, where vast deposits of minerals, including lithium—a key component in batteries for electric vehicles—have attracted increased interest from both local and foreign operators. Authorities have intensified efforts to clamp down on unlicensed mining activities, which they say undermine the economy, damage the environment, and often evade regulatory oversight.

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Source: The Cable