Thirteen illegal miners have been captured through the joint effort of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kwara State Command.
The suspected illegal miners were captured by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency while operating in Kakafu village in Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The suspects were apprehended on Tuesday August 30, 2022, which is sequel to credible intelligence received by the EFCC over some suspected illegal miners operating in the area.
The suspects are, Buba Mohammed, Yusuf Umar, Surajo Shehu, Abubakar Abdullahi, Salisu Mohammed, Quadri Sulaiman and Nwafor Chinonso.
Others include Abdullahi Isa, Mustapha Mohammed, Buhari Hassan, Basiru Jafaru, Murtala Jafaru and Jafaru Abdullahi.
Five trucks fully loaded with different brands of solid minerals were seized from the suspects, according to a communique released by the Media Unit of the Zonal Command in Ilorin on Wednesday.
The communique added that investigations revealed that the suspects were not paying royalties to the Federal Government as required by law.
The suspects will soon be charged to Court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.