Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested two Chinese nationals and six Nigerians for their alleged involvement in illegal mining of lithium in the Ogere area of Ogun State.
The arrest, which took place at the weekend, followed credible intelligence and extensive surveillance by the Commission, according to an official EFCC statement.
Those arrested include Zhang Hang Lin and Gao Pei Hai (Chinese nationals), and six Nigerians identified as Matthew Mathias, Oluwaseun Amoo, Wasiu Ademola Alao, Ajibola Nurudeen, Ibrahim Yinusa, and Saidu Shuaibu.
During the sting operation, EFCC operatives intercepted three trucks loaded with sacks containing substances suspected to be ground lithium powder, as well as other yet-to-be-identified solid minerals.
Additional items recovered at the scene included a Toyota 4Runner SUV, several mobile phones, samples of low-grade lithium, Automated Teller Machine cards, international passports belonging to the suspects, four LED flashlights, and other relevant documents.
“This operation demonstrates our renewed commitment to tackling the economic sabotage that illegal mining represents. We acted swiftly based on credible intelligence, and we are expanding our investigations into the network behind this operation,” EFCC said.
The EFCC emphasized that the illegal mining of lithium and other critical minerals poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s economic and environmental security, as the global demand for lithium continues to rise due to its use in batteries and electric vehicles.
“All eight suspects are currently in EFCC custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” the anti-graft agency said.
