The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 41 suspects and impounded 12 trucks for their alleged involvement in illegal mining and being in possession of different types of solid minerals without appropriate licences

The suspects were arrested at different locations in Share, Banni, Lade, Patigi, and Okolowo in Kwara State, and Igbeti and Ogbomosho in Oyo State on Monday, February 5, 2024.

The EFCC, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday, February 7, said their (suspects) arrest followed credible intelligence over activities of illegal miners transporting truckloads of assorted minerals outside the state without requisite licences.

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Oyewale listed the suspects to include Nura Lawan, Tunde Jimoh, Sani Umar, Oyeleke Sunkanmi, Adegboyega Oluwashola, Mohammed Umar, Muhammed Abubakar, Dawud Muideen, Chukwu Okpara Idam, Ganiyu Roqeeb, Umina Umina, Nura Ibrahim, Isiyaku Jibril, and Samaila Ibrahim.

Others are Idris Isah, Abdullahi Adamu, Yusuf Auwal, Aminu Usman, Muhammed Musa, Yusuf Ibrahim, Abdullahi Sani, Ishola Mayowa Qudus, Zakariyau Yusuf, Abubakar Dauda, Mohammed A Mohammed, Soliu Mohammed, Sunday Adewale, and Adeyemi Michael.

Oyewale added that the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC had, on July 12, 2023, secured the conviction of a Chinese national, Gang Deng, and the final forfeiture of two trucks with its mineral contents to the Federal Government, while it arrested 13 Chinese nationals comprising a female and 12 males for offences bordering on illegal mining.

He noted that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Star