By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
A Chinese-owned company, Mystics Mining Resources Limited, has allegedly stormed a lithium mine in Ambam community, Kaduna State, claiming ownership, a moved said to have sparked tensions with the incumbent mining firm, Range Mining Ltd.
Eyewitnesses, SUMMIT POST learnt, said a convoy of vehicles escorted by armed personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rolled into the field where Range Mining was legally operating on November 15, 2025.
When contacted, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Panam Musa, who authorised the deployment, initially defended his actions.
“The reason for deploying new security personnel on the mine field was because there are up to four companies claiming ownership of the field,” he stated, promising, however, to visit the site to resolve the matter.
Speaking on anonymous ground, a source within the Ambam community, it was learnt, revealed that the Chinese company claimed to have the permission of the Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC).
But when confronted with this claim, the Managing Director of KMDC, Engr Shuaibu Kabir Bello, was unequivocal in his denial.
“I am telling you now that we don’t know Mystics Mining and I have ordered Civil Defense to stop them immediately. They will be arrested,” Bello declared, exposing a stark contradiction between the company’s assertions and official record.
After the denial from the state’s own mining on the legitimacy of Mystics Mining, Commandant Musa offered a vague explanation on the basis for the NSCDC’s armed escort to the Mining company.
“Mystics Mining came to my office with some documents which warranted the deployment of armed personnel,” he said. He notably failed to specify what these documents were.
“Later I found out that the field they were going to was the same being occupied by Range. As we speak now, I am on the site and have ordered them to stop work immediately,” he said.
A high-level security source, who also requested anonymity, disclosed that Mystics Mining Ltd had already engaged in a massive bribery scheme to gain access.
“As I am talking to you now, Mystics Mining has spent over 250 million naira bribing some key people in Ambam community,” the source revealed. “With that, they believe they can do and undo.”
In a revealing development, landowners who allegedly received N50 million each from the Chinese company are now said to be expressing deep regret and alleging they were deliberately misled.
Two landowners, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, confirmed to some reporters that they were told a fundamentally different story.
“The Chinese told us they have an agreement with Range Mining for some form of collaboration. That was why we listened to them. But now we know they lied to us,” one landowner stated with evident frustration.
The landowners were adamant about the nature of their transaction with Mystics Mining. “There’s no agreement between the landowners and the Chinese. They are telling people that we sold our land to them. That is not true,” the source emphasised. “Tell the Chinese to show the land document. We didn’t sign any agreement with them.”
on Friday, November 28, when the Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, John Onoja, convened a meeting with representatives from both Mystics Mining Resources Ltd and Range Mining Ltd. Onoja, a no-nonsense, award-winning officer known for his commitment to the rule of law, delivered a decisive ruling that exposed the fundamental flaw in both companies’ claims.
“By the submission of both parties and their respective presentation, none possess the requisite documents for mining in the disputed area,” Onoja stated in his official assessment to this newspaper.
“Same was confirmed and admitted to by both parties. Both parties also stated that they are still in the process of obtaining necessary licence from Mining Cadastre Office.
Hence, it was only normal to resolve that all parties should suspend mining activities pending when requisite documents to do so is gotten.
So none are to work in view of the indication of the preliminary investigation conducted with both parties. Further investigation continues.”
However, Onoja’s ruling made a crucial distinction between the two companies’ positions. While neither possessed a valid mining license, Range Mining’s activities on the site were deemed lawful and beneficial to national security efforts.
“During the meeting with both parties, it was confirmed that Range was not mining on the field but was providing security while awaiting their mining license,” Onoja explained. “That is a welcome development; we encourage such from citizens.