The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Command has arrested 41 suspects for illegal mining activities and impounded 12 trucks allegedly containing different types of solid minerals without a license.
The offense is punishable by life imprisonment under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offenses Act Cap M17, 1983.
In a statement by the head of media and publicity of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, he said that the arrest followed credible intelligence on activities of illegal miners, adding that the suspects transported truckloads of assorted minerals outside the state without a proper license.
“They were arrested at different locations in Share, Banni, Lade, Patigi, and Oko-Olowo in Kwara state, and Igbeti and Ogbomoso in Oyo state.
“The suspects include 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.
Details of the registration numbers of the 12 trucks impounded by the anti-graft agency are: 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 statement also said that the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.
The EFCC had warned that it would be unrelenting in the fight against corruption just as it is leaving no stone unturned in breaking the rings of the illegal mining operators across the country. Aside from the law that frowns on illegal mining activities, the act is an economic sabotage capable of causing environmental devastation, socio-economic hardship, insecurity, banditry, and a host of other vices.
You may recall that the EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command 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, while it arrested 13 Chinese nationals comprising of a female and 12 males on July 12, 2023, for offenses bordering on illegal mining.