Nigerian Government Nabs 327 Illegal Miners, Foreign Terror Suspects Among Them

The Nigerian Government has disclosed that more than 327 persons, including foreign nationals allegedly linked to illegal mining and terrorism financing, have been arrested across Nigeria as authorities intensify crackdowns on criminal networks operating in the country’s solid minerals sector. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, revealed this on Friday in Abuja while responding to questions from journalists over allegations by some United States lawmakers linking illegal Chinese mining activities in Nigeria to the funding of terrorism and violent crimes. Alake, according to Channels TV, said several of the foreign nationals apprehended during operations had already been handed over to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for further investigation over suspected security-related offences. Though he did not disclose the exact number of foreigners transferred to the NSA’s office or their nationalities, the minister said the arrests formed part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to dismantle illegal mining syndicates and restore order to the sector. According to him, out of the 327 suspects arrested so far, about 142 are currently facing prosecution, while approximately 3,000 mining licences have been revoked over alleged violations and irregularities. The minister attributed the actions to ongoing reforms introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claiming the interventions had significantly improved government earnings from the mining sector. He stated that revenue generation from solid minerals increased from about ₦6 billion in 2023 to over ₦70 billion by December 2025. Alake also urged stakeholders in the sector to embrace responsible practices and support efforts aimed at sanitising the industry. The minister’s disclosure comes against the backdrop of worsening insecurity across Nigeria, where illegal mining has increasingly been linked to the financing of banditry, terrorism and organised criminal activities. Security experts and civil society organisations have repeatedly warned that criminal groups operating in parts of Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Plateau and other mineral-rich states derive huge revenues from illicit mining operations. Armed gangs and insurgent groups have reportedly taken control of several illegal mining sites, using proceeds from gold and other mineral resources to procure weapons and fund violent operations. Nigeria has continued to battle deadly attacks by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and violent criminal gangs, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions, where thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in recent years. Communities in mining areas, such as Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara among others have also suffered repeated attacks, extortion and violent territorial disputes linked to control of mineral resources. Last year, President Bola Tinubu raised concerns over the continued plundering of mineral resources across West Africa, warning that the illicit exploitation of minerals was fuelling instability across the region. Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at the Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), Tinubu called for illegal mining and resource theft to be treated as international crimes. “I believe the time has come for us to designate resource theft, mining, and stealing of minerals in the region as an international crime that threatens regional stability and galvanise the world against threats from stolen minerals from West Africa,” the president said. https://www.channelstv.com/2026/05/15/illegal-mining-fg-hands-over-foreign-terror-suspects-to-nsa/