Members of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended five individuals for the possession and transportation of three truckloads of various solid minerals extracted without the necessary license.
In a statement released on Tuesday, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale revealed that the individuals involved in the incident are Dauda Suleiman, Quadri Oladimeji, Abubakar Alhassan, Anas Sanusi, and Auwal Garba.
Oyewale noted that the suspects consist of truck drivers, with the exception of Quadri Oladimeji and Auwal Garba, who serve as truck assistants.
“Their arrest, which was effected along Maraba road, Ilorin Kwara state and Ogbomosho, Oyo state between March 21 – 22, 2024, followed credible intelligence and days of surveillance,” the statement read.
“The suspects were arrested while conveying solid minerals suspected to be marble stone, white powder, lithium, and lepidolite to Shagamu and Alakija in Ogun and Lagos State for commercial purposes without licence. They claim to be hired.
“Details of the trucks recovered from the suspects showed that Dauda, Abubakar, and Anas were each carrying a truck with registration numbers JJJ 206 YG, Lagos; T24413 LA, Lagos and KNT 635 XP, Niger, respectively.”
This marks not the initial apprehension carried out by the anti-corruption agency against individuals involved in unauthorized mining operations within the country.
On February 5, the EFCC detained 41 individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities in Ilorin and confiscated 12 truckloads of various minerals extracted without proper licenses. With this recent arrest, the tally rises to 46 persons arrested and 15 vehicles confiscated in the past month for comparable infractions.
The statement further indicated that following the completion of investigations, the suspects would be brought before the court for arraignment.