Thirteen nationals have been arrested in Kwara State for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities.
According to the spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the suspects, comprising a female and 12 males, were arrested at the Government Reserved Area of Ilorin by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the agency
He identified the suspects as: Guo Ya Wang, 36, Lizli Hui, 42, Guo Jian Rong, 36, Lizh Shen Xianian, 37, Lishow Wu, 26, Guo Pan, 38, and Lia Meiyu, 53.
Others are: Guo Kai Quan, 36, Lin Pan, 50, Ma Jan, 38, Wendy Wei Suqin, 31, Li Zhinguo Wei, 29 and Xie 53.
Uwujaren further disclosed that the suspects were arrested, following discreet investigations into the activities of illegal miners in the state, adding that they operated different illegal mining sites in most of the 16 gocal government areas of the state.
The EFCC spokesman added: “Upon interrogation, the arrested suspects confessed to be workers of a Chinese company known as W. Mining Global Service Limited, situated at Olayinka in Ifelodun LGA of the state.
“It was gathered that the company was using the illegally-mined crude to produce marble and sell locally within Nigeria.
“Findings also revealed that some of the suspects working in the company were without work permit, but came with visit permit from China to Abuja and traveled by road to Ilorin.”