Over 327 Arrested: FG Transfers Foreign Illegal Miners to NSA Amid Terror Probe

Minister of Solid Minerals Affairs Dele Alake announced that foreign nationals arrested for illegal mining and suspected of financing terrorism have been handed over to the Office of the National Security Adviser for deeper investigation. So far, more than 327 individuals have been detained, with 142 now facing prosecution and roughly 3,000 mining licences revoked. Alake credited President Tinubu’s reforms for transforming the solid minerals sector and boosting revenue from ₦6 billion in 2023 to over ₦70 billion by December 2025. He urged operators to adopt responsible practices and support the government’s efforts to curb corruption and institutional weaknesses. Last year at a regional anti-corruption meeting, President Tinubu warned that ongoing looting of minerals in West Africa threatens stability. He called for stronger international measures to designate resource theft as an international crime and curb the trade in stolen minerals.

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