Operatives of the Ilorin zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have arrested 13 Chinese nationals over offences bordering on illegal mining activities in Ilorin, Kwara state.
The offence is contrary to, and punishable under section 1(8) (b) of the miscellaneous offences Act Cap M17, 1983.
The suspects that comprise of a female and 12 male, were arrested Wednesday July 12, 2023 at the Government Reserved Area (G.R.A), Ilorin.
Their arrest, the commission said Thursday, followed credible intelligence about their “activities which included but not limited to, illegal mining and non-payment of royalties to the federal government as required by law.”
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) Lin Pan (50).
Others are Ma Jan (38), Wendy Wei Suqin (31), Li Zhinguo Wei (29) and Xie Zhinguo (53).
Prior to their arrest, discrete investigations on the activities of illegal mining operators in Kwara state revealed that the operators have different illegal mining sites in almost all the 16 local government areas of 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.
“Findings also reveal 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,” a statement from the commission’s zonal office in Ilorin said.