Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 13 Chinese nationals for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The suspects identified as Guo Wang (36), Lizli Hui (42), Guo Rong (36), Lizh Xianian (37), Lishow Wu (26), Guo Pan (38), Lia Meiyu (53), Guo Quan (36) Lin Pan (50), Ma Jan (38), Wendy Suqin (31), Li Zhinguo Wei (29) and Xie Zhinguo (53) were arrested in an apartment in a government-reserved area, Ilorin.
According to the anti-graft agency spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the operatives acted on credible intelligence about their activities, which included but were not limited to illegal mining and non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government as required by law.
He explained that “prior to their arrest, discrete investigations on the activities of illegal mining operators in Kwara State revealed that the operators had different illegal mining sites in almost all the 16 local government areas of the state.”
Uwujaren said, “Upon interrogation, the arrested suspects confessed to being workers of a Chinese company known as W. Mining Global Service Limited, situated at Olayinka in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
“It was gathered that the company was using the illegally mined crude to produce marble and sell locally within Nigeria.
“Findings also revealed that some of the suspects, working in the said company, were without work permits but only came with a visit permit’ from China to Abuja and traveled by road to Ilorin.”
The EFCC spokesman said the suspects acted contrary to and were liable to be punished under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offenses Act, Cap. M17, 1983.
He said the suspects would be arraigned upon the conclusion of the investigations, which had already begun.
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