The Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested five suspects for their alleged involvement in illegal mining operations and the conveyance of suspected lithium powder.
The suspects were apprehended after the command successfully intercepted two trucks loaded with the lithium powder at the Ibadan end of the toll gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Augustine Padonu, disclosed this to journalists while parading the suspects on Wednesday at the Area ‘A’ Command, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
He identified the suspects as Abdulahi Ayinde (47) from Ilorin, Kwara State, who was one of the drivers; Abdulrahman Ayinde (35) from Saki, Oyo State, the second driver; Femi Akanni (35) from Ola Ejigbo, Osun State, a motor boy; Abdulakeem Fasasi (31) from Saki, a motor boy; and Wasiu Amuda (22), also a motor boy.
The Commandant said: “On Friday, September 6, 2024, at about 2100 hours (9 p.m.), our vigilant monitoring team intercepted two DAF trucks with registration numbers BDJ 64 XE and ARP 201 XB at the Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“The trucks were loaded with solid minerals suspected to be lithium powder, weighing about 60 tonnes.
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“During the investigation, it was revealed that the products were loaded from Ilenla, Kishi Town, and were destined for sale at Ogere in Ogun State.”
The NSCDC boss revealed that the suspects had been operating from illegal mining sites without operation licenses, royalties, purchase and processing licenses, and haulage receipts.
He further stated that the suspects would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of the investigation.
“The Oyo State Command of the NSCDC remains steadfast in its commitment to ridding Oyo State of criminal elements.
“We urge the good people of the state to continue providing the NSCDC and other security agencies with information that will aid our efforts in maintaining law and order.
“We assure the public that the NSCDC will continue to work tirelessly to protect our nation’s solid mineral resources and ensure that all mining activities are conducted within the confines of the law,” Padonu added.
In an interview, one of the suspects, a driver, said that he was just employed to load the lithium stones to be taken to Saapade in Ogun State.
He mentioned that he was to be paid N10,000 as his fee while the motor boys were to earn N5,000 each.
“It was our first time loading stones. We were used to loading goods ordered by our customers, such as cassava and maize. The businessman would get trucks from owners in a union, and we would drive them to destinations and deliver the goods. We didn’t know there was any illegality tied to what we were conveying,” the driver said.
