EFCC arrests five for illegal mining in Ilorin

Operatives of the Ilorin zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested five persons for the possession and conveyance of three truckloads of assorted solid minerals mined without license.

The head, media and publicity of the antigraft agency, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the suspects include Dauda Suleiman, Quadri Oladimeji, Abubakar Alhassan, Anas Sanusi, and Auwal Garba.

The statement also said that the suspects are truck drivers except Quadri Oladimeji and Auwal Garba, who are truck boys

“Their arrest, which was effected along Maraba road, Ilorin Kwara state and Ogbomosho, Oyo state between March 21 – 22, 2024, followed credible intelligence and days of surveillance. The suspects were arrested while conveying solid minerals suspected to be marble stone, white powder, lithium, and lepidolite to Shagamu and Alakija in Ogun and Lagos State for commercial purposes without licence. They claim to be hired.

“Details of the trucks recovered from the suspects showed that Dauda, Abubakar, and Anas were each carrying a truck with registration numbers JJJ 206 YG, Lagos; T24413 LA, Lagos and KNT 635 XP, Niger, respectively.”

It would be recalled that the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC on February 5, 2024, arrested 41 persons over suspected illegal mining activities and impounded 12 truckloads of assorted minerals mined without license. The latest arrest brings to 46 the number of persons arrested, and 15 vehicles ceased in the last month over similar offences.

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The statement said that the suspects would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of the investigations.