Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Directorate, have apprehended five individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities.
The suspects were allegedly involved in the extraction and transportation of ilmenite without proper authorisation.
The anti-graft agency, in a statement released on its official X handle on Friday, identified the suspects as Samuel Akwa, Willie Uboko, Muhammed Tukur, Salmannu Ibrahim, and Jaafar Adam.
The EFCC revealed that the suspects were caught while transporting 1,200 bags of ilmenite in a truck without legal clearance.
“At the time of their arrest, the suspects were said to be conveying 1,200 bags of Ilmenite in a truck without authorisation. All they had was a waybill indicating that the consignment belonged to a certain WillJane Global Ventures Limited,” the statement read.
Preliminary findings linked the company, WillJane Global Ventures Limited, to one of the suspects, Willie Peter Uboko. According to investigators, he had allegedly operated without a mining licence for four years, moving the mineral to undisclosed destinations.
The EFCC further disclosed: “He was alleged to have been operating without a mining licence for the past four years and transporting ilmenite to unidentified destinations. During questioning, the suspect said they were on their way to Onne in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to make a delivery when they were arrested.”
The arrests followed weeks of surveillance along the coastal lines of Mkpanak, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The EFCC confirmed that “the suspects are making useful statements and will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
