EFCC arrests seven for illegal mining in Oyo

Officials from the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested seven individuals involved in illegal mining activities, seizing five truckloads of minerals in the process.

This was contained in a statement by the anti-graft agency posted on X.com on Wednesday.

“The arrest, which followed credible intelligence and days of surveillance, was carried out on Friday, May 24, 2024, at Ogbomosho, Oyo State.

“The suspects are Waliyu Abidoye, Abubakar Auwal, Abdulrauf Hakim, Sabiu Usman, Salihu Godwin, Dauda Mohammed, and Olalekan Aremu.

“At the point of arrest, five truckloads of assorted minerals suspected to be lepidolite, lithium, and precious stones, among others, were recovered from the suspects,” the statement partly read.

Investigations revealed that the suspects were operating without the necessary licenses and permits for mining and mineral possession.

“They were also not paying royalties to the federal and state governments, as required by law,” the statement added.

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Additionally, the EFCC arrested two other individuals, Faleti Waheed and Noah Olalekan, who attempted to secure the release of one of the seized trucks with a N1.2 million bribe.

“The duo of Waheed and Olalekan approached the EFCC operatives at the point of arrest and negotiated to give them money in order to have their seized truck released.

The officers played along and got the suspects arrested at the point of delivering the money,” the EFCC disclosed.

The EFCC recovered N995,500 from Waheed, who claimed to be a gas station manager, and N201,000 from Olalekan, who claimed to be a scavenger.

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The statement concluded by noting that the suspects will be charged in court once the investigation is completed.