EFCC Arrests 13 Chinese Nationals For Illegal Mining

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Ilorin Zonal Command has paraded 13 Chinese nationals for illegal mining offences in contravention of Section 1(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983 in Ilorin, Kwara State and were arrested on Wednesday July 12, 2023, thereby taking the number of arrests made in that command to no fewer than 80 individuals, with up to 24 trucks loaded with minerals seized in the last 32 weeks.

The suspects which comprised of a female and 12 male were apprehended at the Government Reserved Area, G.R.A Ilorin after they had been monitored by the operatives concerning not just illegal mining activities in almost all the local governments in the state, but also their refusal to remit royalties to the Federal Government by law.

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Spokesman for the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren while delivering a statement on Thursday listed the names of the suspects as: Li Zhinguo Wei (29), and Xie Zhinguo (53), , Lizh Shen Xianian (37), Lishow Wu (26), Guo Pan (38), Lia Meiyu (53), Guo Kai Quan (36) Lin Pan (50). Others are Guo Ya Wang (36), Lizli Hui (42), Guo Jian Rong (36) Ma Jan (38) and Wendy Wei Suqin (31).

“Upon interrogation, the 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 granite to produce marble for sale locally in Nigeria. Findings also revealed that some of the suspects working in the said company were without ‘work permit’, but only entered Nigeria with visitor’s visa. The suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the investigations,”  Uwujaren said.

Recall that on September 10, 2022, a certain Dang Deng of Sinuo Xinyang Nigeria Ltd was arrested, charged to court and convicted by Justice Mohammed Sani of the Federal High Court after about 25 tons of assorted crude minerals were found on him.

The EFCC has unequivocally made it clear that it would not seize in waging war against perpetrators of illegal mining.