Ji Zhou
By Victory Oghene
Nigeria’s anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared a Chinese national, Ji Zhou, wanted over his alleged involvement in illegal mining activities in Kaduna State.
In a public notice released on Wednesday and signed by the Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the Commission said Zhou is being sought in connection with an ongoing investigation into illicit mining operations that violate Nigeria’s mineral resources laws.
“JI ZHOU, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Illegal Mining,” the anti-graft agency said.
Zhou, 36, is said to be residing at Uguwan Mai Keke, Kafanchan, in the Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where illegal mining activities have become rampant despite several government crackdowns.
The Commission has appealed to the public to provide useful information about the suspect’s whereabouts by reporting to any of its zonal commands across the country or by contacting it via telephone at 08093322644 or by email at [email protected].
Zhou’s declaration adds to the growing list of foreign nationals, especially Chinese citizens, linked to illegal mining in Nigeria.
Several investigations and arrests by both the EFCC and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in recent years have revealed a pattern of foreign involvement in the plundering of Nigeria’s solid minerals, often with the complicity of local collaborators and government insiders.
Despite mounting concerns, many of the illegal operators continue to evade justice, raising questions about the political will to tackle what appears to be a well-oiled syndicate undermining Nigeria’s mineral wealth.
As of press time, there had been no official comment from the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria regarding the latest development.
Two weeks ago, the commission also stated that its operatives from the Kaduna Zonal Directorate had arrested nine suspected illegal miners in Kaniyan Village, Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State.
According to a statement released by the Commission, the arrest followed the receipt of actionable intelligence regarding ongoing illegal mining operations in the area.
The suspects include five Chinese nationals and four Nigerians.
The Chinese nationals were identified as Wu Ping, Xu XianLiang, Xu Aimin, Xeu Cihuo, and Liu Changhua, while the Nigerian suspects were identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sunday Oladele, Destiny John, and Bulus Samuel.
Upon their arrest, EFCC operatives recovered a substantial cache of industrial mining and power equipment allegedly used in the illegal operation.
The operatives also seized several power generating sets, such as Stamford, Inlong, Taiyo, Senwei SP6800, Laison 40000x, JMC, Yuchai, and Kaishan KSCY-33018 models, as well as three industrial crushing machines and three smaller versions from the suspects.
Other equipment recovered from the suspects includes a Quangutaigaajing JIareshebei gold melting machine, four small dumper trucks, three pay loaders, three Elepaq water pumping machines, a Tacoma truck, a Lexus 470 SUV, and three large diesel rubber tanks.
The EFCC operatives also found a welding machine (Bx1-400), a 25.2kg supply of activated carbon chemical, four drilling machines, an extractor, four gas-powered generating sets, a filing machine, two big gas cylinders, and a Honda water pump.
A laptop computer, two mining safety helmets, two small scales, a white-coloured detection device, and seven bottles of unidentified chemicals were also among the items recovered from the suspects.
The statement noted that the operatives further discovered two cartons of explosives and three blasting caps, raising further concerns over potential breaches of safety and environmental regulations.
The EFCC stated that the suspects were in custody and would be charged in court upon the completion of ongoing investigations.
