- The arrest of the suspects and interception of the trucks were executed in collaboration with the patrol team of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Kwara Area Command along Eiyenkorin and Ballah in Asa Local Government of Kwara State
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says eighteen suspected illegal miners have been apprehended in Kwara State.
The suspects were arrested by the anti-graft’s agency operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate and men of the Nigerian Customs Service.
Thirteen truckloads of assorted solid minerals suspected to be lithium, marble stone, white powder, lepidolite, among others, were also intercepted recovered from the suspects.
The development is contained in a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity of the commission.
Oyewale gave the name of the suspects as Saidu Madugu, Adamu Amadu, Lawal Ibrahim, Mohammed Mustapha, Abdulkarim Hassaini, Isiaka Abubakar, Shafiu Salisu, Abdullahi Yanda Isa, and Bashiru Mohammed.
Others include Anas Saidu, Asa Bature, Abudu Sani, Jabir Salisu, Bello Muhammed, Habilu Idris, Fatai Abdullai, Isyiaka Hamidu and Oseni Lukman.
According to the statement, the suspects were arrested on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, except the trio of Fatai, Isyiaka and Oseni, that were arrested on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
The arrest followed credible intelligence about the activities of some suspects conveying illegally mined solid minerals along Eiyenkorin – Ballah route in Asa Local Government of Kwara State, without lawful authority.
The arrest of the suspects and interception of the trucks were executed in collaboration with the patrol team of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Kwara Area Command along Eiyenkorin and Ballah in Asa Local Government of Kwara State.
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate had on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, arrested eleven suspects and impounded eight trucks for similar offences.
“The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations,” the statement added.