The Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have sealed seven suspected illegal mineral buying and processing centres in Kontagora, Niger State, over alleged violations of Nigeria’s mining laws and mineral trading regulations.

The Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

According to Onoja, the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining activities and restore order to Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

He revealed that four suspects linked to some of the affected companies were arrested during the enforcement exercise.

The operation, carried out on June 12, 2026, resulted in 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 within the area.

According to the statement, the action followed credible intelligence reports indicating that some of the companies were operating mineral buying centres without the necessary approvals and were allegedly sourcing strategic minerals from unverified suppliers in contravention of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011.

Preliminary investigations revealed that representatives of some of the affected firms admitted purchasing Monazite from suppliers who presented only state or local government revenue receipts as evidence of legitimacy.

Investigators, however, discovered that the suppliers failed to provide valid Mining Leases, Small-Scale Mining Leases (SSML), Licences to Purchase and Possess Minerals (LPPM), Mineral Buying Centre Licences, or other statutory documents required under the law.

The statement further disclosed that officials of AL-YAMAN Global Concept Nigeria Limited and 17 Mines & Minerals Limited admitted purchasing minerals without verifying whether the suppliers possessed the legal authority to mine, possess, or sell the minerals.

Investigators also reported that they could not obtain documentary evidence confirming that some of the affected firms possessed valid Licences to Purchase and Possess Minerals or Mineral Buying Centre Licences authorising them to procure minerals from third parties.

The report, however, recommended further verification of permits and approvals claimed by some of the companies with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and other relevant regulatory agencies.

According to the findings, there is prima facie evidence of regulatory non-compliance and reasonable suspicion that some of the minerals processed by the companies may have originated from illegal mining operations.

The investigation recommended comprehensive verification of licences and permits, detailed scrutiny of identified suppliers, legal review of the findings, prosecution where criminal conduct is established, and forfeiture of all minerals recovered during the operation to the Federal Government in accordance with existing laws.

The statement added that a preliminary valuation of the seized minerals, including Monazite, Iron Ore and Zircon, indicated that the recovered materials were worth several millions of naira.

Reaffirming the commitment of the Mining Marshals to sanitising the sector, Onoja said the agency would sustain its crackdown on illegal operators and mineral trafficking networks across the country.

“The crackdown forms part of our ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector, dismantle illegal mineral trading networks and ensure strict compliance with Nigeria’s mining laws,” he said.

He added, “Where there are no buyers of illegally mined minerals, illegal miners cannot thrive.”