Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade have intercepted a commercial bus allegedly transporting equipment suspected to be destined for illegal mining activities in the Agbaja Forest area of Lokoja Local Government Area, Kogi State.
The operation took place at about 2:23 a.m. on September 15, 2026, at the Jamata Block position, where troops reportedly spotted the equipment being transferred from a commercial bus into a boat for onward movement towards the forest.
Security sources said the consignment was believed to have originated from Zamfara State and was intercepted before it could reach its intended destination.
According to the sources, those handling the equipment reportedly abandoned the consignment and fled after sighting the troops, leaving both the mining materials and the vehicle behind.
A search of the abandoned consignment led to the recovery of three mining machines, three pumping machines, six rolls of pressure pipes, four diesel engine parts, seven head pans, 15 shovels and three sieving rugs.
The troops also impounded a 14-seater commercial bus suspected to have been used to transport the equipment from Zamfara State to Kogi.
The recovered items and the vehicle were subsequently handed over to the Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Government for further necessary action.
The interception has raised fresh security concerns over the movement of mining equipment across state lines and its possible use in unauthorised mining operations.
Authorities are expected to investigate the consignment further, including efforts to identify those responsible for transporting the equipment and establish the nature of the mining activities allegedly planned for the Agbaja Forest.
The operation underscores the continued efforts by security agencies to disrupt suspected illegal mining activities and prevent the unauthorised exploitation of mineral resources in the state.
Source:@ZagazolaMakama
