Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, have arrested two Chinese nationals and six Nigerian accomplices for illicit extraction and trade in solid minerals, including lithium, in Ogere, Ogun State.
The operation, carried out Friday, followed credible intelligence and surveillance that exposed the suspects’ activities. Those arrested include Zhang Hang Lin, Gao Pei Hai, Matthew Mathias, Oluwaseun Amoo, Wasiu Ademola Alao, Ajibola Nurudeen, Ibrahim Yinusa, and Saidu Shuaibu.
EFCC officials recovered three trucks loaded with sacks of what is believed to be ground lithium powder, a highly sought-after mineral used in battery production. A Toyota 4Runner SUV, mobile phones, ATM cards, low-grade lithium samples, international passports, LED flashlights, and other documents were also seized during the operation.
The EFCC stated that the suspects are undergoing interrogation and will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations.
This bust marks a significant development in the fight against illegal mining and resource theft in Nigeria, particularly amid increasing global demand for lithium, often referred to as “white gold” for its economic value in clean energy technology.
