The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cracked down on an illegal mining operation in Niger State, arresting nine individuals — including five Chinese nationals and four Nigerians — in a major operation that highlights Nigeria’s ongoing battle against illicit mineral exploitation.

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC stormed Kaniyan Village in Mokwa Local Government Area, where the suspects were allegedly engaged in illegal mining activities. The arrest underscores growing concerns over foreign involvement in Nigeria’s natural resources without proper licenses or oversight.

Those arrested include five Chinese nationals — Wu Ping, Xu XianLiang, Xu Aimin, Xeu Cihuo, and Liu Changhua — alongside Nigerians Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sunday Oladele, Destiny John, and Bulus Samuel.

During the raid, EFCC operatives recovered a staggering array of equipment and materials linked to illegal mining operations. Among the seized items were heavy-duty industrial machines, power generators of various brands, gold melting equipment, dumper trucks, pay loaders, water pumps, drilling machines, welding tools, and even a stash of explosives packed in two cartons.

Other notable items include a Lexus 470 SUV, a Tacoma truck, diesel storage tanks, gas cylinders, mining safety gear, blasting caps, weighing scales, a laptop, chemicals, an extractor, and a specialized detection device — all believed to have been used in the illicit mining operations.

The EFCC says investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be formally charged in court once the probe is completed.

This arrest serves as another reminder of the Nigerian government’s commitment to cracking down on illegal mining — a practice that not only robs the country of much-needed revenue but also contributes to environmental degradation and local community exploitation.