The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained 13 Chinese citizens for their involvement in illegal mining activities in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The anti-graft agency made this announcement in a statement on Thursday, as reported by its Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren.Uwujaren stated that the 13 suspects, consisting of 12 males and one female, were arrested on July 12 in the Government Reserved Area of Ilorin. Their arrest came after the EFCC received credible intelligence about their activities, which included illegal mining and failure to pay royalties to the Federal Government as mandated by law.
The arrested individuals are 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).Investigations into the illegal mining operations in Kwara State had revealed that the operators had numerous illegal mining sites across all 16 local government areas of the state.
During interrogation, the arrested suspects admitted to being employees of a Chinese company named W. Mining Global Service Limited, located in Olayinka, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. It was discovered that the company utilized the illegally-mined resources to produce marble for sale within Nigeria.Further findings revealed that some of the suspects working for the company did not possess work permits but only held “visit permits” from China to Abuja, after which they traveled to Ilorin by road.
The Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC reported that it has apprehended over 80 illegal operators in the past eight months and confiscated 24 truckloads of assorted minerals from these illegal miners.The EFCC emphasized its unwavering commitment to fighting corruption and its determination to dismantle illegal mining networks across the country.
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