The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended five Chinese nationals for their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
The suspects, identified as Zhon Qinping, Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou, and Chen Zeng, were arrested at an illicit mining site in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, located within the Ibeno Local Government Area.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the arrests were made by the Commission’s Special Task Force on August 29 and September 10, following credible intelligence reports about the illegal operations of foreign mining companies in the Eket and Ibeno Local Government Areas.
"Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested five suspected illegal Chinese miners at Ndito-Eka-Iba village," Oyewale stated.
The suspects are accused of unlawfully extracting ilmenite, a valuable titanium-iron oxide mineral. "They were all arrested at an illegal mining site of a mineral suspected to be ilmenite," Oyewale added.
The EFCC has confirmed that the individuals will face legal charges upon the completion of the investigation.
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