The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Command, has arrested 41 suspects and impounded 12 trucks said to be containing different types of solid minerals without licence.
The latest arrest, the commission said, followed credible intelligence over the activities of the illegal miners.
It added that the suspects were apprehended at different locations in Share, Banni, Lade, Patigi and Okolowo in Kwara, and Igbeti and Ogbomoso in Oyo while transporting truckloads of minerals outside the states without due licences.
Speaking on the development on Tuesday, the EFCC Zonal Commander, Ilọrin, Michael Nzekwe, said the operation was part of the commission’s renewed efforts to fish out local and foreign collaborators depriving the country of huge sums of revenue and causing serious environmental hazards to the people through illegal mining activities.
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According to him, preliminary investigations showed that the minerals suspected to be marble stone, white powder, lithium and lepidolite, among others, were being transported outside the country for production of goods at the expense of the Nigerian economy.
He said the suspects would be arraigned upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.
Nzekwe who listed the names of 41 suspect during the parade gave the registration number of the 12 trucks as FG 179 6B, KWM 398 XA, TRE 419 YJ, ABC 795 XD, KWS 351 XC, ZUR 370 XJ, YL 667 XA, T3815 LA, AAA998XA, SHD 625XA and KWM 416 XA.
Daily Trust reports that the command had in 2022 secured the conviction of a Chinese national, Gang Deng, and final forfeiture of two trucks with its mineral contents to the Federal Government.
On July 12, 2023, it also arrested 13 Chinese nationals including a female for offences bordering on illegal mining in the state.
The 41 suspects are 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.
The rest are Idris Mohammed, Auwal Adam, Yusuf Ibrahim, Abdullahi Lawal, Damilare Samuel, Idris Oyeniran, Peter Gaya, Sulaiman Kabiru, Abdulwasiu Jimoh, Azeez Taofik, Isyaka Olalekan, Taofik Bello and Sadiq Murtala.
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