The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ilorin Zonal Command, has arrested 41 suspects and impounded 12 trucks containing different types of solid minerals mined without license.

Parading the suspects in Ilorin on Tuesday, the Zonal Commander of EFCC, Mr Michael Nzekwe said that the suspects were picked from various locations including Patigi, Igbeti and Ogbomoso areas near Kwara state.

The Commander said that most of the arrested suspects were truck drivers adding that some of them had named some foreign nationals and one or two Nigerian big men who were behind the illegal Mining.

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 adding “Aside from the law that frowns on illegal mining activities, the act is an economy sabotage capable of causing environmental devastation, socio-economic hardship, insecurity, banditry and a host of other vices.”

According to him, the offence is punishable with life imprisonment under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983.

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 added, “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.

“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.

He said that the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.

It would be recalled that the EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command had in 2022 secured the conviction of a Chinese national, Gang Deng and the final forfeiture of two trucks with its mineral contents to the Federal Government, while it arrested 13 Chinese nationals comprising of a female and 12 males on July 12, 2023, for offences bordering on illegal mining.