Οperatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested eleven suspected il- legal miners for engaging in mining activities without requisite licenses. They were arrested on at Emem-Asuk community, Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Dele Oyewale According to a press state- ment made available to Jour- nalists in Uyo by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity.
“The suspects are seven Chinese identified as: Yang Chaobao, 32, Zhong Dun Yi 33, Cheng Jiang, 35, Zhong Dun Long, 37, Pan Peiming, 33, Lai Yiping, 37 and Zhu Lekun, 35. Their Nigerian accomplices are: David Israel, 18, Jonah Bartholomew Jim, 24, Samuel Samuel Timothy, 20, and a female translator named Comfort Gabriel Ajaga 23. He said the suspects are operating two illegal mining sites at Eastern Obolo Local Government Area where they were arrested whilst setting up mining equipment at a second location. They were already engaged in illegal mining activities at their first location where they were mining ilmenite locally called ‘black sand’. He added,
“During questioning, the only female among the suspects said her only connection to the illegal miners was her proficiency in speaking ‘mandarin’, a widely spoken language in China. “I am a student, and I am studying Chinese language at a Learning Centre in Anambra State and I only work with them as a translator”, she said. “The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation”.
