Troops of the 176 Guards Battalion have arrested a suspected kingpin of an illegal mining syndicate alongside three other suspects in the Federal Capital Territory.

The security operation was carried out around 8:30 p.m. on July 13, 2026, in the Dukpa community of the Gwagwalada Area Council. It followed a previous raid on July 7, during which two illegal miners were arrested in the same area.

Information gathered during the preliminary questioning of those initial suspects led troops directly to the syndicate’s main operational base.

During initial interrogations, the principal suspect confessed to sponsoring the illicit mining activities within the Federal Capital Territory. He admitted to recruiting and transporting laborers from Katsina State to execute the operations at the site.

Military forces dismantled the illegal mining camp and recovered several items, including:

* One motorcycle
* Two digging tools
* Seven filter carpets
* Seven pumping machine nozzles
* 53 wraps of suspected cannabis
* ₦360,400 in cash

The suspects and all seized items are currently in military custody for further investigation, profiling, and subsequent handover to relevant regulatory and law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

This raid is part of the ongoing anti-illegal mining campaign under Operation MESA, a joint security initiative designed to protect Nigeria’s mineral resources, prevent environmental degradation, and address the security threats and criminal networks often associated with illicit mining activities in the nation’s capital.