The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian at four suspected illegal lithium processing plants in Ogere, Ogun State, as part of its ongoing crackdown on alleged illegal mining and mineral trading activities.
The suspects were reportedly arrested on Friday, October 23, 2026, following intelligence gathering and surveillance by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2.
The EFCC disclosed the arrests in a statement on Monday, October 26, 2026, stating that the operation targeted facilities suspected of engaging in illegal lithium processing.
According to the commission, several items suspected to be connected to the activities under investigation were recovered during the operation.
“Upon their arrest, bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four computer laptops, two decoders, a television remote control, and a trailer truck were recovered from the suspects,” the EFCC said.
The commission stated that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The arrests come amid renewed enforcement efforts by the EFCC against suspected illegal mining and mineral trading operations in Ogun State, where previous investigations have also involved Chinese nationals and Nigerian collaborators.
In May 2025, the commission arrested two Chinese nationals and six Nigerians in Ogere over alleged illegal mining activities.
During that operation, operatives reportedly recovered three trucks conveying substances suspected to be ground lithium powder and other solid minerals.
The latest arrests bring renewed attention to suspected illegal lithium processing activities in the area, particularly amid concerns over the exploitation and trading of Nigeria’s mineral resources outside established regulatory frameworks.
In a separate development in May 2026, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the final forfeiture to the Federal Government of assets recovered in connection with alleged illegal mining activities in Ogun State.
The assets reportedly included a mining site, trucks, and quantities of lithium and mica stones.
The EFCC has yet to disclose the identities of the 15 suspects or provide further details about the ownership and operations of the four facilities where they were arrested.
The commission also did not indicate whether the suspects had entered any pleas, as the case remains at the investigation stage.
The suspects are expected to face prosecution after investigations are concluded, according to the EFCC.