EFCC ARRESTS ILLEGAL MINERS, SEIZES 12 TRUCKLOADS OF LITHIUM IN KWARA
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The Kwara State-based Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ilorin Zonal Command, reported that it had seized twelve trucks carrying various forms of illegally mined solid minerals.
The EFCC’s Zonal Commander, Michael Nzekwe, announced during the suspects’ Tuesday parade in Ilorin that the suspects had been apprehended at a number of sites, including Patigi, Igbeti, and Ogbomoso areas close to Kwara state.
He revealed that the offence is punishable with life imprisonment under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983.
According to Nzekwe; most of the arrested suspects were truck drivers, and some of them had named foreign nationals and one or two Nigerians behind the menace.
He warned that the EFCC would not relent in its efforts to 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.
“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 production of goods at the expense of the Nigerian economy”, Nzekwe said, adding that the “Details of the registration number of the twelve 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.
The Suspects arrested 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.”
He said that the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.
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