The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian over alleged illegal lithium processing actions at 4 amenities in Ogun State.
The anti-graft company disclosed the arrests on Monday, October 26, 2026, as a part of its ongoing efforts to fight illegal mining and unauthorised mineral processing throughout the nation.
According to the fee, the suspects had been apprehended on Friday, October 23, following intelligence gathering and surveillance operations focusing on suspected illegal lithium processing actions in the Ogere space of the state.
EFCC recovers lithium processing tools
The EFCC mentioned the operation was carried out by personnel connected to its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, who raided 4 amenities the place the suspects had been allegedly processing lithium with out authorisation.
The fee disclosed that investigators recovered a number of luggage containing lithium-bearing rocks, alongside digital gadgets and a trailer truck throughout the operation.
- “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 14 Chinese and one Nigerian at four illegal lithium processing plants in the Ogere area of Ogun State,” the fee acknowledged.
Other objects recovered throughout the raid included 18 cellphones, 4 laptops, two decoders and a tv distant management.
The arrests adopted intelligence gathering and surveillance operations focusing on suspected illegal lithium processing actions in the world.
The fee added that investigations had been ongoing and that the suspects can be prosecuted as soon as the required inquiries had been accomplished.
Nigeria intensifies illegal mining crackdown
The newest arrests come amid sustained efforts by the Federal Government to deal with unauthorised mining operations, together with figuring out people and financiers accountable for illegal mineral extraction.
In July 2026, federal authorities shut down an illegal gold mining location in Osun State and apprehended two suspected miners throughout an enforcement operation at Ileki-Ijesa alongside the Ile-Ife–Ilesa Road.
The authorities subsequently disclosed that the suspects had been aiding investigators in figuring out these financing the illegal mining actions.
- In May 2025, the Federal High Court in Jos ordered the deportation of four Chinese nationals, Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing and Long Kechong, following their conviction for illegal dealings in strong minerals.
- The court docket additionally directed the forfeiture of roughly N134.9 million linked to the illegal actions to the Federal Government.
- In July 2025, Nairametrics reported that the EFCC arrested seven Chinese nationals and 4 Nigerians at two mining areas in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects arrested in Akwa Ibom had been allegedly extracting ilmenite, generally known as black sand, with out the required licences, as enforcement companies continued efforts to deal with illegal mining actions.
Nigeria expands home lithium processing
Nigeria’s strong minerals sector has attracted rising funding curiosity, with the Federal Government estimating the country’s mineral resources at about $700 billion.
Lithium has change into notably necessary due to its use in rechargeable batteries for electrical automobiles, renewable vitality storage techniques and digital gadgets.
- According to a June 2026 report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), world lithium demand is projected to extend by 353% between 2024 and 2040, whereas graphite demand is anticipated to rise by 131%.
- In September 2026, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau signed a cooperation framework masking geological data sharing, mineral exploration, processing, infrastructure improvement and technical experience.
- 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 authorities.
The facility has the capability to course of 6,000 metric tonnes of lithium ore each day and was designed to broaden home processing quite than rely solely on the export of unprocessed minerals.
