OGUN, Nigeria- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 14 Chinese nationals and a Nigerian over alleged illegal lithium processing at four plants in Ogere, Ogun State.
The commission said operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 carried out the arrests on Friday, 23 October, following intelligence gathering and surveillance.
In a statement posted on its verified X account on Monday, the EFCC said the operation targeted suspected illegal activities involving lithium processing. Items recovered included bags of lithium-bearing rocks, 18 mobile devices, four laptop computers, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
The commission did not disclose the identities of the suspects, the ownership of the plants or the scale of the alleged operations. It said the suspects would be charged in court after investigations had been concluded.
Lithium is a critical mineral used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices. Growing demand for battery-powered technologies has increased its economic importance and the need for effective regulation of its extraction, processing and trade.
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