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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained 15 people, comprising 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian, following raids on four suspected illegal lithium processing facilities in Ogere, Ogun State.
The arrests were carried out on Friday, October 23, by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 after intelligence gathering and surveillance operations targeting the facilities.
Items seized during the operation included bags of lithium-bearing rocks, 18 mobile phones, four laptops, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck, according to the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC announced the development on Monday, stating that investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the operations at the four facilities.
The commission added that the suspects would be taken to court after investigators had concluded their inquiries. However, the agency did not disclose their identities or provide details about the ownership of the plants.
The arrests come amid increased attention to Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, as authorities intensify efforts to tackle unauthorised mining and processing activities.
Lithium is an important mineral used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, mobile phones and energy storage systems. Its growing global demand has increased interest in deposits across Nigeria, making regulatory oversight of mining and processing operations increasingly significant.
