The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained five Chinese nationals for alleged illegal mining activities in Akwa Ibom State.
According to a statement from EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the arrests were made by the Uyo Zonal Command’s Special Task Force on August 29 and September 10 in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, Ibeno Local Government Area.
Oyewale, who named the suspects as Zhon Qinping, Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou, and Chen Zeng, stated that they were all apprehended at an illegal mining site where the mineral is suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral.
Oyewale added that the suspects will face charges in court once the investigation is complete.
Parts of the statement read: “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 Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
“The five individuals accused of illegal mining were apprehended by the Special Task Force on Illegal Mining at the EFCC’s Zonal Office in Uyo. This action followed credible intelligence regarding the illicit activities of foreign mining companies operating in the Eket and Ibeno Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.”
“They were all arrested at an illegal mining site where the mineral is suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral.”