The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian over alleged illegal lithium processing operations at four facilities in Ogere, Ogun State.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 26, 2026, the commission said the arrests followed intelligence gathering and surveillance targeting suspected unauthorised lithium processing activities in the area.
According to the EFCC, operatives from its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 raided the four facilities on Friday, October 23, where the suspects were allegedly processing lithium without the necessary authorisation.
Items recovered during the operation included several bags of lithium-bearing rocks, 18 mobile phones, four laptops, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
The commission confirmed the arrests, stating that its operatives had apprehended the 15 suspects at the four facilities as part of efforts to tackle illegal mineral processing.
The EFCC said investigations were ongoing and that the suspects would be prosecuted after the completion of the necessary inquiries.
The arrests come amid the Federal Government’s efforts to combat illegal mining and regulate activities within Nigeria’s solid minerals sector. Authorities have intensified enforcement operations against individuals and groups suspected of engaging in unauthorised mineral extraction and processing.
In July 2026, federal authorities shut down an alleged illegal gold mining site at Ileki-Ijesa, along the Ile-Ife–Ilesa Road in Osun State, arresting two suspected miners. The government said the suspects were assisting investigators in identifying those allegedly financing the operation.
Similarly, in May 2025, the Federal High Court in Jos ordered the deportation of four Chinese nationals following their conviction for illegal dealings in solid minerals. The court also ordered the forfeiture of approximately N134.9 million linked to their activities to the Federal Government.
In another operation in July 2025, the EFCC arrested seven Chinese nationals and four Nigerians at two mining locations in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State over alleged unlicensed extraction of ilmenite, a mineral commonly associated with black sand.
Lithium has become increasingly important to Nigeria’s solid minerals industry because of its use in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage systems and electronic devices.
The Federal Government has estimated the value of Nigeria’s mineral resources at approximately $700 billion. Meanwhile, a June 2026 report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development projected that global lithium demand would rise by 353 per cent between 2024 and 2040.
As part of efforts to strengthen cooperation in the sector, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau signed a cooperation framework in September 2026. The agreement covers geological information sharing, mineral exploration, processing, infrastructure development and technical expertise.
Nigeria has also pursued investments in domestic mineral processing. In July 2026, the Federal Government inaugurated a $250 million lithium processing facility in Nasarawa State. Developed by Chinese-owned Diamond New Energy in partnership with the state government, the facility is designed to process 6,000 metric tonnes of lithium ore daily.
The government has continued to promote local processing as part of its broader strategy to increase the value derived from Nigeria’s mineral resources.
The EFCC’s latest arrests underscore the authorities’ ongoing efforts to clamp down on suspected illegal mineral operations as demand for lithium and other strategic resources grows globally.
