No fewer than thirteen Chinese have been apprehended by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for illegally engaging in mining activities in Ilorin, Kwara State.
In a statement on on Thursday, the EFCC said the offence is contrary to, and punishable under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983.
“The suspects, which comprise of a female and 12 male, were arrested on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at G.R.A Ilorin following 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 statement named the suspects as 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).
READ ALSO: https://thecrux.org.ng/2023/07/07/illegal-mining-crime-are-enemies-to-nations-economy-efcc/
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 suspects confessed to be workers of a Chinese Company in Ifelodun Local Council. It was gathered that the company was producing marble and selling within Nigeria.
Findings also revealed that some of the employees were without Work Permit, but only came with Visit Permit from China to Abuja and travelled by road to Ilorin.
Within the last eight months, no fewer than 80 illegal operators have reportedly been arrested by the Ilorin Zonal Command of EFCC and 24 truckloads of assorted minerals impounded,” the statement reads.
