Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate have arrested five suspected illegal miners involved in the extraction and transportation of ilmenite, locally called ‘black sand’ without the requisite licence.
The arrested suspects are: Samuel Eshiet Akwa, Willie Peter Uboko , Muhammed Tukur , Salmannu Ibrahim and Jaafar Adam.
At the time of their arrest, the suspects were conveying one thousand two hundred (1,200) bags of Ilmenite in a truck without authorization. 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 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 to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
