EFCC arrests Chinese nationals, others for illegal mining in Plateau
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, have arrested 31 suspected illegal miners in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The suspects, including four Chinese nationals and 27 Nigerians, were apprehended on Saturday, March 8, 2025, during a raid at the premises of Jiasheng Nigeria Limited, located at Dura Rayfield, Mangu Road, Jos.
The EFCC, in a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, said the arrests followed “credible intelligence linking the company to illegal mining activities in the state.”
The arrested individuals include Chinese nationals Liang Qinyong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong.
Others are Akilu Akonimi, Umar Mohammed, Aaron Davo, Auwal Abdullahi, Haruna Umar, Prosper Goddey, Alex Long, Mathew Onmaza, Oupe Anzaku, Samson Luka, John Nwang, Saidu Mohammed, and several others.
During the operation, the EFCC recovered a truck loaded with eight bags of processed monazite, each weighing 1,000kg and valued at approximately N4 million per bag.
The anti-graft agency stated, “The arrested individuals were found within the premises of Jiasheng Nigeria Limited, in possession of unprocessed solid minerals, suspected to have been illegally mined.”
The commission emphasised its commitment to tackling illegal mining and economic sabotage, vowing to ensure that those involved face justice.
All the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the EFCC added.
Illegal mining has remained a significant concern in Nigeria, particularly in mineral-rich states like Plateau, Zamfara, and Osun, where illicit extraction has been linked to environmental degradation, loss of government revenue, and security challenges.
The EFCC urged stakeholders in the mining sector to comply with regulatory guidelines, warning that it would intensify its crackdown on illegal mining operations across the country.
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