Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 13 Chinese for alleged illegal mining in Kwara State. The suspects comprised one female and 12 males.
An EFCC source said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin, following credible intelligence about their activities. The source added that their activities included illegal mining and non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government.
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The suspects are 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) and Lin Pan (50).
Others are Ma Jan (38), Wendy Wei Suqin (31), Li Zhinguo Wei (29) and Xie Zhinguo (53).
The source said: “Prior to their arrest, discrete investigations on illegal mining operators showed that they had different mining sites in almost all the 16 local government areas. Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to be workers of a Chinese Company, W. Mining Global Service Limited, situated at Olayinka in Ifelodun local government area. It was gathered that the company was using the crude to produce marble and sell locally within Nigeria.
Findings also showed that some of the suspects didn’t have work permit, but came with visit permit from China to Abuja, and travelled by road to Ilorin. They would be arraigned after investigations.”
Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulkarim Chukkol, had during a-day media training for journalists in the state, last week, lamented the activities of illegal mining operators. He described it as grave threat to local and national economy.
In the last eight months, no fewer than 80 illegal operators had been arrested by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC and 24 truckloads of assorted minerals impounded.
SOURCE: THE NATION
