Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested five suspected illegal Chinese miners at Ndito-Eka-Iba village, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects, Zhon Qinping, Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou and Chen Zeng, were arrested at the same illegal mining site between August 29th and September 10th, 2024, while mining ilmenite, an ore of titanium-iron oxide mineral.
Ilmenite is naturally occurring solid mineral composed of iron and titanium oxides, used in various industries including aerospace, steel production, medical implants, paint manufacturing, etc.
The five suspected illegal miners were arrested by the operatives of Special Task Force on illegal Mining from EFCC’s Zonal office in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
EFCC on its verified X handle twitted that their arrest followed credible intelligence on illegal activities of foreign mining companies within Eket and Ibeno Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.
According to the anti-graft agency, the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
