Troops seize 10,400 bags of black sand, arrest five illegal miners in Bayelsa

Troops of the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Sanity, have seized about 10,400 bags of suspected illegally mined ilmenite sand, popularly known as black sand, and arrested five suspected illegal miners in Bayelsa State.

The operation was conducted at about 12:45pm on Saturday, August 22, 2026, following intelligence on the movement of suspected illegal miners around Bassambiri Community in Nembe Local Government Area.

According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, troops of the 343 Artillery Regiment responded to the intelligence and intercepted a tugboat and barge carrying the suspected mineral resources.

Five suspects were arrested during the operation, while the vessels and their cargo were recovered.

“The suspects and recovered items were subsequently handed over to the Police Division in Nembe for further investigation and necessary legal action,” Makama reported.

Makama said the operation formed part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to tackle illegal mining and other illicit activities in the Niger Delta.