Black sand is rich in valuable heavy minerals like ilmenite (titanium ore) and magnetite (iron ore)
By Sam Ovie
·
Published on June 25, 2026
·
1 min read
A barge carrying what appeared to be possible black sand was seen being escorted by a Nigerian Army gunboat along the Nembe River in Bayelsa State at about 4:36 p.m. on June 24, 2026.
The sighting comes just days after the Nigerian Navy announced the arrest of 11 persons over alleged illegal black sand mining in the state.
The images were captured by a native, George Gbala, who said the Army’s escort of the barge has not been officially disclosed, and it remains unclear whether the movement of the black sand was connected to any government-approved operation.
Black sand is rich in valuable heavy minerals like ilmenite (titanium ore) and magnetite (iron ore). These deposits are primarily found in the coastal regions and river basins across the Niger Delta.
