The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested 31 suspected illegal miners in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The suspects, including four Chinese nationals and 27 Nigerians, were apprehended on Saturday, March 8, 2025, during a raid at the premises of Jiasheng Nigeria Limited, located at Dura Rayfield, Mangu Road, Jos.
The EFCC, who disclosed this in a statement posted on Monday, said the arrests followed “credible intelligence linking the company to illegal mining activities in the state.”
The arrested individuals include 4 Chinese nationals Liang Qinyong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong. Others are Akilu Akonimi, Umar Mohammed, Aaron Davo, Auwal Abdullahi, Haruna Umar, Prosper Goddey, Alex Long, Mathew Onmaza, Oupe Anzaku, Samson Luka, John Nwang, Saidu Mohammed, and several others.
During the operation, the EFCC recovered a truck loaded with eight bags of processed monazite, each weighing 1,000kg and valued at approximately N4 million per bag.
The anti-graft agency stated, “The arrested individuals were found within the premises of Jiasheng Nigeria Limited, in possession of unprocessed solid minerals, suspected to have been illegally mined.”
The commission emphasized its commitment to tackling illegal mining and economic sabotage, vowing to ensure that those involved face justice.
“All the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the EFCC added.