NSCDC ARRESTS 19 OVER ALLEGED ILLEGAL GOLD MINING IN EDO, TWO OPERATORS WANTED

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested 19 people suspected of engaging in illegal gold mining activities in Edo State, while two alleged operators believed to be behind the mining operation have reportedly escaped and are being sought by security operatives.

The arrests were made on Friday, August 28, 2026, during a raid carried out at an illegal gold mining site located within the Okpella/Ososo/Egbetua forest axis of Etsako East and Akoko-Edo Local Government Areas of Edo State.

The operation was conducted by the Mining Marshal Unit of the Edo State NSCDC Command following what officials described as credible intelligence and sustained surveillance of illegal mining activities within the forest area. According to the command, officers moved into the location at about 3:35pm despite facing difficult terrain, poor road access, hills and thick vegetation.

Speaking at a press conference in Benin on Tuesday, the Edo State NSCDC Commander, Saidi Akintayo, said the operation resulted in the arrest of 19 suspected miners, while two other individuals reportedly escaped into the surrounding forest during the raid.

Akintayo explained that preliminary investigations indicated that the arrested individuals were allegedly involved in illegal gold mining and were working for two people identified as a man popularly known as “Area” and another individual, Mr Abu Mawain.

The commander disclosed that 15 of the suspects were allegedly working for “Area”, while the remaining four were reportedly operating under Mawain through a company identified as Gravity Pillars Concept Ltd.

During the operation, NSCDC personnel also recovered several items suspected to have been used in the illegal mining activities. The recovered materials included one pumping machine, five head pans, 13 carpets or rugs, six shovels, 15 mobile phones, one power bank and four identity cards bearing the name Gravity Pillars Concept Ltd.

The two alleged operators, identified by the command as “Area” and Abu Mawain, were not arrested during the operation and are currently at large. Akintayo said security personnel had intensified efforts to locate the two men and bring them into custody for questioning.

According to the NSCDC commander, the arrested suspects have already made statements to investigators concerning their alleged involvement in the illegal mining activities. He added that they would be prosecuted after the completion of the ongoing investigation.

The command said the operation was part of its wider campaign against illegal mining and the unauthorised exploitation of natural resources across Edo State. The NSCDC maintained that individuals involved in such activities would not be allowed to continue exploiting the state's resources without consequences.

Akintayo further directed the Mining Marshal Unit to intensify its operations across the state, stressing that the focus would not only be on workers found at illegal mining locations but also on financiers, sponsors and other individuals who allegedly profit from the activities.

He said the NSCDC would continue investigating the networks behind illegal mining in order to identify those funding or benefiting from the operations.

The commander also acknowledged the support provided by the Edo State Government, particularly Governor Monday Okpebholo, saying the logistics and other assistance had helped create an environment that enabled NSCDC personnel to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Akintayo commended the officers involved in the raid for their courage and commitment, particularly given the challenging terrain where the illegal mining operation was discovered.

He also appealed to residents to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying illegal mining sites and those responsible for financing such activities.

The Edo State NSCDC Command reiterated that illegal mining would not be tolerated and warned individuals involved in the unauthorised exploitation of the state's natural resources that they risk arrest and prosecution.