EFCC Nab Chinese Nationals, Others Over Illegal Mining Allegations

Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested nine individuals over alleged illegal mining activities in Niger State.

The suspects were apprehended in Kaniyan Village, Mokwa Local Government Area, following actionable intelligence on their operations.

Among those arrested are five Chinese nationals—Wu Ping, Xu XianLiang, Xu Aimin, Xeu Cihuo, and Liu Changhua—as well as four Nigerians: Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sunday Oladele, Destiny John, and Bulus Samuel.

Upon their arrest, operatives recovered several items from the suspects, including power-generating sets such as Stamford, Inlong, Taiyo, Laison, Senwei SP6800, JMC, Yuchai, Kaishan KSCY-33018, and others, industrial and small crushing machines, a gold melting machine, dumper trucks, pay loaders, water pumping machines, a Tacoma truck, a Lexus 470 SUV, diesel rubber tanks, welding machines, drilling machines, gas cylinders, a laptop, and chemicals, including two cartons of explosives.

Additional recovered items include an extractor, a white-coloured detection device, weighing scales, mining safety gear, blasting caps, and a Super Zandaz water pumping machine.

The EFCC stated that the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.