- Safiu Kehinde
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has nabbed five Chinese nationals in Akwa-Ibom over alleged illegal mining.
This was confirmed in a statement issued on the Anti-graft agency’s official X handle on Sunday.
According to the statement, the five suspected illegal miners identified as Zhon Qinping, Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen MoU Zhou , and Chen Zeng, were arrested by the Special Taskforce on Illegal Mining at the Commission’s Zonal Office in Uyo, the state’s capital city.
They were reported apprehended over illegal mining of mineral resources suspected to ilemnite, a titanium-iron oxide material.
Meanwhile, the Commission disclosed that the suspects will charged to court at the conclusion of their investigation.
The statement read in part; “Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, have arrested five suspected illegal Chinese miners at Ndito-Eka-Iba village, in Ibieno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
“The five alleged illegal miners were arrested by the “Special Task Force on illegal Mining” at the Commission’s Zonal office in Uyo, following credible intelligence on the illegal activities of foreign mining companies within Eket and Ibieno Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.
“The arrested Chinese suspects are: Zhon Qinping arrested on September 10, 2024 at Ibieno Local Government Area, while Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou and Chen Zeng were arrested on August 29, 2024 at the same location.
“They were all arrested at an illegal mining site of a mineral suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral.
“The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”