EFCC Targets Financiers, Buyers and Officials Behind Illegal Mining in Nigeria

According to a report by PUNCH on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced plans to intensify its campaign against illegal mining in Nigeria, with a renewed focus on financiers, mineral buyers, compromised government officials and other individuals facilitating the criminal trade.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said the commission was shifting attention beyond miners operating at excavation sites, arguing that the illegal mining business was sustained by organised networks involving both local and international actors.

He made this known on Tuesday while delivering a keynote address at a public lecture and capacity-building workshop organised by the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda in Ilorin, Kwara State.

According to Olukoyede, tackling illegal mining requires dismantling the entire network responsible for financing operations, transporting illegally extracted minerals, providing fraudulent documentation, purchasing the resources and protecting those involved.

“Therefore, dealing with illegal mining involves breaking an impregnable chain of fraudulent actors: young men carrying shovels, their financiers, buyers of the minerals, compromised officials facilitating the operation, beneficiaries from the proceeds and other actors,” he stated.

The EFCC chairman explained that the commission’s enforcement approach would increasingly rely on financial investigations to identify those funding the activities and trace the proceeds generated from mineral theft.

He disclosed that between October 2023 and July 2026, the commission handled 52 illegal mining cases and secured the forfeiture of 102 tonnes of solid minerals.

Olukoyede, however, clarified that the EFCC was not responsible for regulating the mining industry or issuing mining licences. He said the agency’s involvement was limited to investigating suspected corruption, fraud, money laundering, illicit financial transactions and proceeds of criminal activities within the sector.

He also warned that illegal mining posed a threat to national security, noting that uncontrolled mineral extraction and trading could encourage extortion, smuggling, violence and territorial conflicts involving criminal groups.

“Once criminal interests begin to control economic activity in a community, the consequences can extend far beyond lost royalties,” he cautioned.

The EFCC boss further warned that public officials who abused their positions to facilitate illegal mining, manipulate licences or conceal proceeds from mineral theft would face investigation.

He called for stronger collaboration among mining regulators, law enforcement agencies, customs authorities, financial intelligence institutions and revenue agencies. He also urged traditional rulers, community leaders, youth organisations and civil society groups to report suspicious mining activities.

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