The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Sunday announced that its operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate have arrested five suspected illegal Chinese miners at Ndito-Eka-Iba village, in Ibieno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
According to a statement by EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the five alleged illegal miners were arrested by the “Special Task Force on illegal Mining” at the Commission’s Zonal office in Uyo, following credible intelligence on the illegal activities of foreign mining companies within Eket and Ibieno Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.
The statement noted that “the arrested Chinese suspects are: Zhon Qinping arrested on September 10, 2024 at Ibieno Local Government Area, while Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou and Chen Zeng were arrested on August 29, 2024 at the same location.
“They were all arrested at an illegal mining site of a mineral suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium- iron oxide mineral
“The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”