The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 13 Chinese nationals for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities in Kwara State.

The Chinese nationals comprise of a female and 12 males were arrested by the EFCC officers at the Government Reserved Area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Confirming the arrest on Thursday, the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, listed the suspects to include Guo Ya Wang, 36; Lizli Hui, 42; Guo Jian Rong, 36; Lizh Shen Xianian, 37; Lishow Wu, 26; Guo Pan, 38; and Lia Meiyu, 53.

Others were Guo Kai Quan, 36; Lin Pan, 50; Ma Jan, 38; Wendy Wei Suqin, 31; Li Zhinguo Wei, 29; and Xie 53.

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“This came about following credible intelligence about their activities, which included but were not limited to illegal mining, non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government as required by law,” Uwujaren stated.

He said their arrest was as a result of discreet investigations into the activities of illegal mining operators in Kwara State, adding that the operators have different illegal mining sites in almost all the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

The EFCC spokesman said: “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 LGA of the state.

“It was gathered that the company was using the illegally-mined crude to produce marble and sell locally within Nigeria.

“Findings also revealed that some of the suspects working in the company were without work permit, but came with visit permit from China to Abuja and traveled by road to Ilorin.”

The Acting EFCC Chairman, Abdulkarim Chukkol, recently lamented the activities of illegal mining operators in some parts of the country.

Chukkol described the act as grave threat to local and national economy.

The Star