Twelve trucks said to be containing different types of solid minerals without a license have been impounded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Command.
The commission also said while acting on credible intelligence over the activities of the illegal miners it has arrested 41 suspects in connection with the solid minerals.
Speaking to Journalists on Tuesday in Ilọrin, the EFCC Zonal Commander, Michael Nzekwe said the suspects were apprehended at different locations including Share, Banni, Lade, Patigi, and Okolowo in Kwara, and Igbeti and Ogbomoso in Oyo while transporting truckloads of minerals outside the states without due licenses.
“Preliminary investigations showed that the minerals suspected to be marble stone, white powder, lithium, and lepidolite, among others, were being transported outside the country for production of goods at the expense of the Nigerian economy.
“The registration number of the 12 trucks as 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 41 suspects are 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.
He said the operation was part of the commission’s renewed efforts to fish out local and foreign collaborators depriving the country of huge sums of revenue and causing serious environmental hazards to the people through illegal mining activities, adding that the suspects would be arraigned upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.
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