The new Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ilorin, Victoria Ugo-Ali, has called for stronger inter-agency collaboration to combat corruption, illegal mining, banditry and terrorism financing in Kwara State.
Ugo-Ali made the appeal on Tuesday during courtesy visits to the Commandant of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, and the Kwara State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Michael Oganwu, in Ilorin.
At the Brigade headquarters, she described illegal mining as a significant threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and national security, noting that criminal networks often exploit mineral resources, evade regulations and deprive the government of revenue.
She stressed the need for enhanced intelligence sharing, joint field operations and better protection of mining sites to curb the activities. Ugo-Ali also highlighted what she described as a link between illegal mining and terrorism financing, warning that proceeds from illicit extraction can fund violent and extremist groups.
In response, Brigadier General Rume commended the EFCC’s initiative and pledged the Army’s continued support through joint operations, intelligence exchange and capacity-building efforts aimed at tackling economic crimes within the brigade’s jurisdiction.
During her visit to the DSS headquarters, the EFCC director emphasised intelligence-driven cooperation to address corruption and the rising threat of banditry in parts of Kwara and neighbouring states. She said cutting off financial flows linked to criminal groups would weaken their operations.
Oganwu assured the EFCC of the DSS’s support, stating that sustained collaboration among security agencies is essential to tackling corruption, banditry and terrorism financing and to ensuring lasting peace in the region.
