Five arrested for illegal mining in Uyo

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Uyo Zonal Directorate, have arrested five suspected illegal miners involved in the extraction and transportation of ilmenite.

According to a statement by the EFCC posted on its official X account, the arrested suspects are Samuel Akwa, Willie Uboko, Muhammed Tukur, Salmannu Ibrahim, and Jaafar Adam.

The statement read, “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.

“Preliminary investigations into the matter showed that the said company, WillJane Global Ventures Limited, is owned by one of the suspects, Willie Peter Uboko.

“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 arrest was said to have followed weeks of surveillance along the coastal lines of Mkpanak, at Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

“The suspects are making useful statements and will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the statement added.