Troops of Operation Delta Safe have intercepted a wooden boat carrying about 5,000 bags of suspected illegally mined ilmenite sand in Bayelsa State.
The operation, which took place at about 4:45 p.m. on September 13, 2026, was carried out by troops of the 343 Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, Tamogbene, in Ekeremor Local Government Area.
The troops reportedly acted on intelligence before stopping the boat and discovering the bags of suspected ilmenite sand.
Six people suspected of involvement in the illegal mining and transportation of the mineral were arrested during the operation.
The military said the suspects, boat and recovered mineral have been taken into custody for further investigation.
The operation is part of efforts to curb illegal mining and the movement of illegally extracted minerals through waterways in the Niger Delta.
