By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 18 suspects for offences bordering on illegal mining activities.
A statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity of the anti-graft agency, said 13 truckloads
with assorted solid minerals suspected to be lithium, marble stone, white powder, lepidolite, among others, were also impounded and recovered from the suspects.
The suspects are Saidu Madugu, Adamu Amadu, Lawal Ibrahim, Mohammed Mustapha, Abdulkarim Hassaini, Isiaka Abubakar, Shafiu Salisu, Abdullahi Yanda Isa, Bashiru Mohammed, Anas Saidu, Asa Bature, Abudu Sani, Jabir Salisu, Bello Muhammed, Habilu Idris, Fatai Abdullai, Isyiaka Hamidu and Oseni Lukman.
All the suspects, according to the statement, were arrested on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 except the trio of Fatai, Isyiaka and Oseni that were arrested on Thursday, June 13, 2024
The arrest followed credible intelligence about the activities of some suspects conveying illegally mined solid minerals along Eiyenkorin – Ballah route in Asa Local Government of Kwara State, without lawful authority.
“The arrest of the suspects and interception of the trucks were executed in collaboration with the patrol team of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Kwara Area Command along Eiyenkorin and Ballah area in Asa Local Government of Kwara State,” the statement added.
It would be recalled that the Ilorin
Zonal Directorate had on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 arrested some suspects and impounded eight trucks over similar offences.
The suspects, it stated, would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of ongoing investigations.