Kaduna, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended nine individuals suspected of illegal mining activities in Niger State, the agency announced on Tuesday. The arrests were made by operatives of the EFCC’s Kaduna Zonal Directorate in Kaniyan Village, Mokwa Local Government Area, following credible intelligence regarding their illicit operations.
The group consists of five Chinese nationals—Wu Ping, Xu XianLiang, Xu Aimin, Xue Cihuo, and Liu Changhua—and four Nigerians: Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sunday Oladele, Destiny John, and Bulus Samuel.
Upon their arrest, authorities recovered an extensive array of equipment and materials allegedly used in the illegal mining operations. Items seized include multiple power generating sets (Stamford, Super Quality, Inlong, Taiyo, Senwei SP6800, Laison 40000x, JMC, Yuchai, and Kaishan KSCY-33018), three industrial crushing machines, three smaller crushing machines, a Quangutaigaajing JIareshebei gold melting machine, four small dumper trucks, three pay loaders, and three Elepaq water pumping machines. Additionally, a Tacoma truck, a Lexus 470 SUV, three diesel rubber tanks, a welding machine, a 25.2kg container of activated carbon chemical, four drilling machines, and a filing machine were confiscated.
Other recovered items include four gas-powered generators, an extractor, two large gas cylinders, a Honda pumping machine, a Super Zandaz water pumping machine, a Max Mec welding machine, two cartons of explosives, three caps for blasting stones, a white detection device, two small scales, two mining safety caps, a laptop computer, and seven bottles of chemicals.
The EFCC stated that the suspects will face charges in court once investigations are complete. The agency reiterated its commitment to combating illegal mining and other economic crimes across Nigeria.
