EFCC arrests 80 suspected illegal miners in Kwara

In the past ten months, Kwara State’s Ilorin Zonal Command Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained over 80 alleged illegal miners.


When the state commissioner for the development of solid minerals, Abdulquiwiy Olododo, made him an official visit at the commission’s headquarters in Ilorin, the zonal office commander, Micheal Nzekwe, revealed this.

He claimed that trucks loaded with different minerals were used to arrest the suspects.


Michael claimed that information about the operation of illicit mining operations across the state led to the anti-graft agency’s efforts to stop the threat, which resulted in the arrest of 80 alleged illegal miners.

The zonal commander bemoaned the rate at which unauthorized individuals and artisanal groups were stealing Kwara state’s resources.

The zonal commander, who bemoaned the rate at which Kwara state’s resources were being pillaged by squatters and illegal miners, asserted that “if the resources are channelled through the right sources and put into good use, they will be enough to sustain the economy of the state and make it self-sustaining.”

He argued that every person must be on board with the effort to combat corruption, especially unlawful mining.


Michael promised that the panel will make every effort to ensure that all existing laws were enforced against illegal miners and corrupt people in the state.

Kwara State is incredibly rich in mineral resources, and if correctly utilized, the resources found there might transform the state into “a small London,” he proclaimed.

The state commissioner had earlier reaffirmed the government’s support for the EFCC’s efforts to stop unlawful mining in the state.

He stated, “The government of Mallam Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, who is also the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, is determined to declare a state of emergency in the mining sector with a view to ensuring that money realised from the sector is used for the development of the state.”

The governor is firmly in support of what the EFCC is doing, particularly its efforts to check illegal mining activities and other economic crimes in the state, the commissioner said in passing a vote of confidence on the EFCC for its bravery and tenacity in fighting illegal mining activities in the state.

He said, “The government is not unaware of the difficulties you are encountering in completing this difficult task,” and that “the government of Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is determined to commend your effort as it is focused on how to properly organize and harness the potentials in the mining sector to attract local and foreign investors.”

Olododo, who only recently acquired control of the ministry, claimed that even before he started working as the commissioner in charge of Solid Minerals Development, he was already aware of all the commitments made thus far by the EFCC.

Therefore, he added, “I’ve come to offer a big thank you to the EFCC for all that you’ve been doing to improve Kwara.

While asking the commission to continue its efforts to rid Kwara of corruption, the commissioner also urged for increased cooperation and synergy across government institutions, particularly for the EFCC’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.