The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 41 suspects and impounded 12 trucks for their alleged involvement in illegal mining and being in possession of different types of solid minerals without appropriate licences.
Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale disclosed this in a Tuesday statement.
The EFCC spokesman said the suspects were arrested on Monday, February 5, at different locations in Share, Banni, Lade, Patigi and Okolowo in Kwara, and Igbeti and Ogbomosho in Oyo state.
According to the anti-graft agency, their arrest followed credible intelligence over activities of illegal miners transporting truckloads of assorted minerals outside the state without requisite licences.
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 Command had in July 12, 2023 secured the conviction of a Chinese national, Gang Deng and final forfeiture of two trucks with its mineral contents to the Federal Government, while it arrested 13 Chinese nationals comprising a female and 12 males for offences bordering on illegal mining.
“The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the EFCC said.