Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian for allegedly operating illegal lithium processing plants in Ogere, Ogun State.
The arrests were carried out on Friday by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the anti-graft agency, following credible intelligence and surveillance on the activities of the plants.
The EFCC, in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the suspects were apprehended at four different processing plants located in the Ogere area of the state.
According to the Commission, items recovered during the operation included large bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile phones, four laptops, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
The identities of the suspects and the owners of the processing plants were not disclosed.
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Oyewale said the operation was part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities and economic sabotage in the country, noting that illegal mining of solid minerals has become a major source of revenue loss to the Federal Government.
He added that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Ogun State, particularly the Ogere, Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu axis, has become a hotspot for lithium and other solid mineral deposits, attracting both legitimate and illegal operators in recent years.
The Federal Government had in recent months intensified its campaign against illegal mining, with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and security agencies collaborating to seal illegal sites and prosecute offenders.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to ensuring that those who engage in illegal mining and other forms of economic crimes are brought to justice.
