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.
A press statement by the Mining Marshals Commander, John Attah Onoja, said the operation, carried out on June 12, 2026, resulted in the sealing of the companies, including 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.
The statement said that, according to preliminary investigation, the enforcement action followed credible intelligence suggesting that some of the companies were operating mineral buying centres without the required approvals and were allegedly procuring strategic minerals from unverified sources in breach of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011.
The investigation found that representatives of some of the companies admitted purchasing Monazite from suppliers who presented only state or local government revenue receipts without producing valid mining leases, Small-Scale Mining Leases (SSML), Licences to Purchase and Possess Minerals (LPPM), Mineral Buying Centre Licences or other statutory documents required by law.
Statements obtained from officials of AL-YAMAN Global Concept Nigeria Limited and 17 Mines & Minerals Limited indicated that the companies routinely purchased minerals without verifying the legal authority of
