Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, have arrested nine individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities in Niger State.
The suspects, five Chinese nationals and four Nigerians were apprehended in Kaniyan Village, Mokwa Local Government Area, following actionable intelligence received by the commission.
The Chinese nationals were identified as Wu Ping, Xu XianLiang, Xu Aimin, Xeu Cihuo, and Liu Changhua. Their Nigerian counterparts are Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sunday Oladele, Destiny John, and Bulus Samuel.
A statement by the EFCC said several items were recovered during the operation, including a wide array of heavy-duty equipment and chemicals linked to illegal mining operations.
Among the seized items were multiple power generating sets, including Stamford, Inlong, Taiyo, Laison, and Yuchai brands, industrial and small-scale crushing machines, a gold-melting machine, dumper trucks, pay loaders, drilling machines, and a kaishan KSCY-33018 power generator.
Also recovered were a Tacoma truck, a Lexus 470 SUV, water pumping machines, welding equipment, cartons of explosives, gas cylinders, and chemical substances.
Additionally, the EFCC operatives confiscated laptops, detection devices, safety mining gear, small scales, and other items used in artisanal mining.
The anti graft agency said the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.