Biodun Esan, Ilorin
In its renewed efforts to fish out local and foreign collaborators depriving the country of a huge sum of revenue and causing serious environmental hazards to the people through illegal mining activities,
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Command has arrested 41 suspects involved in illegal mining activities and impounded 12 trucks allegedly containing different types of solid minerals without a license.
The offense is punishable with life imprisonment under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983.
The latest arrest, which followed credible intelligence over the activities of the illegal miners featured suspects transporting truckloads of assorted minerals outside the state without due license.
They were arrested at different locations in Share, Banni, Lade, Patigi, and Okolowo in Kwara, and Igbeti and Ogbomosho in Oyo state.
The 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.
The 12 trucks impounded have the following registration numbers: 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.
Preliminary investigations showed that the minerals suspected to be marble stone, white powder, lithium, and lepidolite, among others, are being transported outside the country for the production of goods at the expense of the Nigerian economy.
The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.
It may be recalled that the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC had in 2022 secured the conviction of a Chinese national, Gang Deng, and the final forfeiture of two trucks with their mineral contents to the Federal Government.
The anti-graft agency also arrested 13 Chinese nationals comprising a female and 12 males on July 12, 2023, for offences bordering on illegal mining.
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