The Edo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has successfully arrested 15 suspects and impounded eight trucks loaded with illegally mined solid minerals following a series of coordinated operations conducted across the state.

The State Commandant, Saidi Akintayo, announced the arrests on Monday, characterizing the rigorous crackdown as a major operational breakthrough in the command’s sustained fight against economic sabotage.

Akintayo disclosed that the arrests stemmed from intelligence-led operations carried out on November 15 and 16, during which six trucks allegedly transporting illegally mined Kyline clay were intercepted along the Benin–Sapele Road.

He stated that the drivers and assistants of these six trucks reportedly failed to present valid authorisation documents, which led directly to the arrest of nine suspects from that particular operation. The suspects were identified as Tobilola Moses, Laseisi Adesegun, Olayinka Dimeji, Joshua Ojo, Peter Oliga, Owolabi Gabriel, Solomon Shedrach, Adela Tannimawo, and Ibrahim Habib.

In a separate operation conducted on the same day, the NSCDC Monitoring and Surveillance Team successfully intercepted two trucks that were found to be transporting lithium along the Ogbemudia Farm axis of the Auchi Road.

The Commandant noted that the documentation presented by the drivers of the two lithium trucks was judged to be “completely irreconcilable,” resulting in the arrest of four additional suspects.

These were identified as drivers Jimoh Mahmood and Abubakar Aminu, and their assistants Abdulmutallib Ibrahim, Nafiu Ibrahim, Mubarak Abdul, and AbdulKareem Nasir.

Earlier, on the preceding Saturday, the corps had also made an arrest near the CCA Construction axis, apprehending a man identified as Hassan Rufai for conveying suspected stolen items, which included a solar battery, a generator, a plasma TV, and inverter chargers.

Akintayo strongly condemned illegal mining, describing it as a destructive economic crime that inflicts serious harm through revenue loss, environmental damage, and heightened insecurity within the state.

He assured the public that all arrested suspects and the seized vehicles had been successfully moved to the NSCDC exhibit yard where they will be held for thorough investigation before prosecution proceedings commence.

The Commandant concluded by urging residents of Edo State to report suspicious activities promptly, while also reaffirming the command’s unwavering commitment to its mandate of protecting national assets and effectively curbing all forms of illegal mining activities across Edo.