EFCC arrests 5 Chinese nationals for illegal mining
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of five Chinese nationals for their involvement in illegal mining activities in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, located in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The arrests were carried out by the EFCC’s Uyo Zonal Command through its Special Task Force, acting on credible intelligence.
In a statement released on Sunday by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the names of the suspects were provided as Zhon Qinping, Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou, and Chen Zeng. The suspects were taken into custody at an illicit mining site, where they were allegedly extracting ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral.
The EFCC disclosed that the operation to arrest the miners took place between August 29 and September 10, 2024, following an investigation into the illegal activities of foreign mining companies in the region. Specifically, their operations were identified within Eket and Ibeno Local Government Areas, areas where foreign miners are increasingly involved in unauthorized extraction of valuable minerals.
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The spokesperson also confirmed that the suspects will be charged in court upon the completion of investigations, emphasizing that the arrests were part of a broader effort by the Special Task Force on illegal mining to curb the growing incidence of unauthorized mining activities in the country.
The EFCC’s Zonal Directorate in Uyo has been actively investigating and responding to the rising concerns about illegal mining, particularly by foreign nationals, in Akwa Ibom.
This operation highlights the ongoing efforts by the Nigerian authorities to regulate the mining sector and protect the nation’s natural resources from exploitation.
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