Thirteen Chinese Nationals have been arrested by the EFCC‘s Ilorin Zonal Command in Ilorin, Kwara State, for their involvement in illegal mining activities.
Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s spokesperson, provided a statement to journalists in Ilorin, stating that on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, the arrest of the suspects occurred at the Government Reserved Area (G.R.A) in Ilorin. The group includes one female and 12 males.
The offences they are charged with are in accordance with Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983.
As per the statement, the apprehension of the suspects ensued after the commission received credible intelligence about their involvement in various unlawful activities, including illegal mining and non-compliance with the legal requirement of remitting royalties to the Federal Government.
The suspects include: Guo Ya Wang (36), Lizli Hui (42), Guo Jian Rong (36), Lizh Shen Xianian (37), Lishow Wu (26), Guo Pan (38), Lia Meiyu (53), Guo Kai Quan (36) Lin Pan (50)
Others are Ma Jan (38), Wendy Wei Suqin (31), Li Zhinguo Wei (29) and Xie Zhinguo (53).
Prior to apprehending the suspects, the statement highlighted that meticulous investigations into the activities of illegal mining operators in Kwara State unveiled the existence of multiple illegal mining sites spread across almost all the 16 Local Government Areas in the State.
‘Upon interrogation, the arrested suspects confessed to be workers of a Chinese Company known as W. Mining Global Service Limited situated at Olayinka in 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.’
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‘Findings also revealed that some of the suspects working in the said company were without ‘work permit’ , but only came with ‘visit permit’ from China to Abuja and traveled by road to Ilorin.’
‘The suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.’ the statement inferred.
It is worth recalling that on Thursday, July 6, 2023, during a media training session for journalists in Kwara State, the Acting Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulkarim Chukkol, expressed his concern about the activities of illegal mining operators, describing it as a serious threat to the local and national economy.
Over the past 8 months, the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC has successfully apprehended more than 80 illegal operators and confiscated 24 truckloads of various minerals.
On September 10, 2022, the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC arrested Dang Deng, a Chinese National and the managing director of Sinuo Xinyang Nigeria Ltd, for being found in possession of 25 tons of assorted crude minerals. Later, on October 19, 2022, he was convicted by Justice Mohammed Sani of the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
The EFCC has made it clear that it will remain resolute in its fight against corruption, ensuring that it exhaustively addresses the networks of illegal mining operators across the nation.