According to the report, there was prima facie evidence of regulatory non-compliance and reasonable suspicion that minerals processed by some of the companies may have originated from illegal mining operations.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals have sealed seven suspected illegal mineral buying and processing centres in Kontagora, Niger State, following investigations into alleged violations of Nigeria's mining laws and mineral trading regulations.
The operation, carried out on June 12, 2026, led to the closure of 17 Mines & Minerals Limited, LALO Mining Limited, AL-YAMAN Global Concept Nigeria Limited, SIMASS Mining & Trading Company Limited, YMJ Minerals & Mines Nigeria Limited, Dating Company Industry Limited, and another mineral buying facility operating in the area. Four suspects linked to some of the companies were also arrested.
According to preliminary findings, the enforcement action followed credible intelligence indicating that some of the companies were operating mineral buying centres without the required approvals and were allegedly procuring strategic minerals from unverified sources in violation of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011.
