Kwara: EFCC Arrests 13 Chinese Nationals For Illegal Mining Activities

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 13 Chinese nationals for illegal mining in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The official Twitter handle of EFCC shared photos of the location alongside those criminals, standing facing the wall on Thursday.

"The offense is contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983," the government agency wrote, revealing that they were arrested on Wednesday.

Out of 13 suspects, 12 were male and one was female. They got arrested at the Government Reserved Area, G.R.A Ilorin.

EFCC disclosed that they received "credible intelligence" about the "activities which included but were not limited to, illegal mining and non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government as required by law."

The tweet further disclosed the names and ages of the suspects: Guo Ya Wang (36), Lizli Hui (42), Guo Jian Rong (36), Lizh Shen Xianian (37), Lishow Wu (26), Guo Pan (38), Lia Meiyu (53), Guo Kai Quan (36) Lin Pan (50), Ma Jan (38), Wendy Wei Suqin (31), Li Zhinguo Wei (29), and Xie Zhinguo (53).

"Prior to their arrest, discrete investigations on the activities of illegal mining operators in Kwara State revealed that the operators have different illegal mining sites in almost all the 16 Local Government Areas of the state," it added.

Following the arrest and interrogation, the suspects confessed that they were working for a Chinese Company known as W. Mining Global Service Limited, which is located at Olayinka in the 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," EFCC revealed, adding that some of these suspects were working in the company without work permits and entered Nigeria with visitor's visas.

After the investigation is done, the suspects will be arraigned in court.

EFCC further noted that in the past eight months, at least 80 illegal operators had been arrested by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC and 24 truckloads of assorted minerals were impounded.

The agency also recalled that last year it arrested a Chinese National named Dang Deng, who served as the managing director of Sinuo Xinyang Nigeria Ltd, for being in possession of 25 tons of assorted crude minerals.

Deng was later convicted on Oct. 19, last year before Justice Mohammed Sani of the Federal High Court, Ilorin. EFCC concluded the tweet by warning the illegal mining operators across the country, noting that it is leaving no stone unturned in breaking the rings and fighting against corruption.