The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, has arrested nine individuals over alleged illegal mining activities in Kaniyan Village, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
The arrests followed actionable intelligence gathered by the agency on the suspects’ mining operations in the area, the EFCC said in a statement.
Those arrested include five Chinese nationals—Wu Ping, Xu XianLiang, Xu Aimin, Xeu Cihuo, and Liu Changhua—and four Nigerian nationals identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sunday Oladele, Destiny John, and Bulus Samuel.
During the operation, EFCC operatives recovered a wide array of heavy-duty mining equipment and materials believed to be used in illegal activities. Items seized include multiple power generators, industrial and small-scale crushing machines, a gold melting machine, dumper trucks, pay loaders, and water pumping machines.
Also recovered were a Toyota Tacoma truck, a Lexus 470 SUV, diesel storage tanks, welding and drilling machines, gas cylinders, a laptop, and chemicals—including two cartons of explosives.
Additional evidence collected from the site included an extractor, a detection device, weighing scales, mining safety gear, blasting caps, and a Super Zandaz water pump.
The EFCC confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of the process.
The agency reiterated its commitment to tackling illegal mining, which it described as a serious threat to Nigeria’s economy and environmental security.
