The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested nine suspected illegal miners in Niger State.
They were arrested in Kaniyan Village, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, by the operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the agency following actionable intelligence on their illegal mining activities.
The agency in a statement issued Tuesday said the suspects comprised five Chinese and four Nigerians.
The Chinese suspects are: Wu Ping, Xu XianLiang, Xu Aimin, Xeu Cihuo, Liu Changhua, while the Nigerians are, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sunday Oladele, Destiny John, and Bulus Samuel.
It added that items found in their possession upon their arrest included: One Stamford power generating set, one super quality power generating set, Inlong power generating set, three industrial crushing machines, three small industrial crushing machines, one Quangutaigaajing JIareshebei gold melting machine, four small dumper trucks, and three pay loaders.
Other items were: Three Elepaq water pumping machine, one Tacoma truck, one Lexus 470 SUV, three diesel rubber tanks, one Taiyo power generating set, one Senwei SP6800 small power generating set, one Laison 40000x power generating set, one welding machine (Bx1-400), one 25.2kg activated carbon chemical, four drilling machines and one kaishan KSCY-33018 power generating set.
Others included: One JMC power generating set, one Yuchai power generating set, one filing machine, four gas powered power generating sets, one extractor, two big gas cylinders, one Honda pumping machine, one Super Zandaz water pumping machine, one Max Mec welding machine, two cartons of explosives, three caps for blasting stones, a white-coloured detection device, two small scales, two mining head gear/safety cap, a laptop computer and seven bottles of chemicals.
The agency stressed that they would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.