EFCC uncovers illegal industrial complex in Ogun, arrests foreigners, police officers

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken custody of a large illegal industrial complex in Ogere, Ogun State, following an inspection led by its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

The facility, reportedly operated by foreign nationals believed to be Chinese, included a petroleum processing plant, lithium processing factory, specialised wood processing unit, power generation plant, warehouses stocked with motorcycles, satellite communication equipment and thousands of power banks, as well as an illegal distillery used for mass-producing alcoholic spirits.

Foreign nationals, police officers and other Nigerians were arrested in connection with the discovery.

Addressing journalists at the site, Olukoyede said investigations were ongoing but vowed that “everyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.”

The operation forms part of a broader clampdown in the Ogere area.

In late October 2026, EFCC operatives from the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 uncovered an illegal sludge-oil refinery linked to Chinese operators that processed black sludge transported from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State into products resembling diesel.

That discovery followed earlier raids that shut down four illegal lithium processing plants in the same locality.

Investigators later confirmed the wider complex also involved suspected unregistered alcohol production, illegal timber-related activities and unlawful mining.

EFCC has secured the site with continuous surveillance.

The commission has indicated it may seek court orders to hand over viable facilities to licensed operators rather than destroy the infrastructure, aiming to preserve productive capacity while pursuing those responsible for economic sabotage and related offences.