Eleven people, including seven Chinese, have been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with alleged illicit ilmenite mining in Akwa Ibom state.  

Operatives of the anti-graft agency's Uyo Zonal Directorate captured the suspects on Thursday last week in Emem-Asuk, Eastern Obolo Local Government Area (LGA) of the State, according to a statement made yesterday by Dele Oyewale, EFCC Head, Media and Publicity.

Oyewale said, “The Chinese suspects are Yang Chaobao, 32,  Zhong Dun Yi , 33, Cheng Jiang , 35, Zhong Dun Long , 37, Pan Peiming , 33, Lai Yiping,  37 and Zhu Lekun, 35.

Oyewale said, “The Chinese suspects are 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.

“They are operating in the Eastern Obolo area, where they were arrested whilst setting up mining equipment at a second location. They were already engaged in the illegal activities at their first location, mining ilmenite, locally called black sand.”

The lone female suspect said that her ability to speak Mandarin, a language that is widely spoken in China, was the only thing that connected her to the illegal miners.

“I am a student 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”, Oyewale further stated.

Source