The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining and associated crimes in Kwara State through strengthened collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS).
As part of this renewed inter-agency engagement, the newly appointed Zonal Director of the EFCC Ilorin Directorate, Assistant Commander Victoria Ugo-Ali, paid strategic courtesy visits on March 3, 2026, to the Commandant of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, and the Kwara State Director of the DSS, Michael Oganwu, in Ilorin. The visits were aimed at reinforcing cooperation in combating corruption, illegal mining, banditry, and terrorism financing within Kwara and neighbouring states.
During her meeting with the Army leadership, Ugo-Ali described illegal mining as a serious threat to both economic stability and national security. She noted that such activities are often driven by organised criminal syndicates that bypass regulatory controls and deprive the country of significant revenue.
“Illegal mining is not merely an economic offence; it constitutes a grave threat to national security. These operations are frequently orchestrated by organised networks that undermine regulatory frameworks and weaken the nation’s revenue base,” she stated.
The Zonal Director called for enhanced intelligence sharing, joint field operations, and reinforced security presence around mining locations to dismantle illicit networks effectively. She further highlighted the nexus between illegal mineral exploitation and insecurity, citing evidence that proceeds from unlawful extraction are sometimes used to finance violent and extremist activities.
According to her, disrupting illicit financial flows linked to mineral resources remains central to the EFCC’s mandate and requires sustained collaboration with the military and intelligence agencies.
In response, Brigadier General Rume commended the EFCC’s proactive engagement and reaffirmed the Brigade’s readiness to support coordinated operations, facilitate intelligence exchange, and participate in capacity-building initiatives.
Similarly, DSS Director Oganwu pledged continued intelligence-driven support, emphasizing that combating corruption, banditry, and terrorism financing demands a unified and coordinated security architecture to ensure lasting peace and stability.
