Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have intercepted a commercial bus conveying suspected illegal mining equipment en route to Agbaja Forest in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The interception was carried out at about 0223 hours on Sept. 15, 2026, at the Jamata Block position, following the movement of the equipment from Zamfara State.
According to security sources, the troops intercepted the equipment while it was being offloaded from the commercial bus into a boat for onward transportation to the forest.
The suspected illegal miners reportedly fled upon sighting the troops, abandoning the equipment and the vehicle.
Items recovered included 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 recovered one 14-seater commercial bus suspected to have been used to convey the equipment from Zamfara State.
The recovered items were subsequently handed over to the Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Government for further necessary action.
Security authorities are expected to continue investigations to identify the individuals behind the movement of the equipment and determine the intended mining activities in the Agbaja Forest.- By: Zagazola Makama
