No fewer than five Chinese nationals have been arrested for illegal mining by operatives of the Uyo zonal directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the five alleged illegal miners were arrested by the special task force on illegal mining at Ndito-Eka-Iba village, in Ibieno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
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.
Oyewale added that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
