The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 11 suspects, including seven Chinese nationals, for alleged illegal mining of ilmenite in Akwa Ibom State.
According to Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, operatives from the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency apprehended the suspects last Thursday at Emem-Asuk, Eastern Obolo Local Government Area.
“The Chinese suspects are Yang Chaobao, 32, Zhong Dun Yi, 33, Cheng Jiang, 35, Zhong Dun Long, 37, Pan Peiming, 33, Lai Yiping, 37 and Zhu Lekun, 35,” Oyewale said.
He further identified the Nigerian accomplices as “David Israel, 18, Jonah Bartholomew Jim, 24, Samuel Samuel Timothy, 20, and a female translator named Comfort Gabriel Ajaga, 23.”
“They are operating in the Eastern Obolo area, where they were arrested whilst setting up mining equipment at a second location. They were already engaged in the illegal activities at their first location, mining ilmenite, locally called black sand,” he explained.
The only female among the suspects, claimed that her only link to the illegal miners was her ability to speak Mandarin, the widely spoken Chinese language.
“I am a student studying Chinese language at a Learning Centre in Anambra State and I only work with them as a translator,” she said.
Oyewale added that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.
