The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested 19 suspected illegal miners operating in a forest in Edo North, with two alleged operators said to be behind the activities currently at large.
The suspects were arrested on Friday, August 28, 2026, during a raid on an illegal gold mining site in the Okpella/Ososo/Egbetua forest axis of Etsako East and Akoko-Edo Local Government Areas of Edo State.
The Edo State NSCDC Commander, Saidi Akintayo, disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference in Benin, where he said the operation followed credible intelligence and sustained surveillance of suspected illegal mining activities in the area.
Akintayo said the corps’ Mining Marshal Unit stormed the forest at about 3:35pm on Friday despite the difficult terrain, poor road network, hills and thick vegetation.
He said, “Despite the difficult terrain, poor road network, hills and thick bushes, our officers successfully located the illegal mining site and arrested 19 suspected illegal miners, while two others escaped into the forest.
