Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, have arrested 31 individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities in Jos, Plateau State.
The suspects—comprising four Chinese nationals and 27 Nigerians—were apprehended on Saturday, March 8, 2025, during a coordinated raid on the premises of Jiasheng Nigeria Limited, located at Dura Rayfield, along Mangu Road in Jos.
According to a statement posted on the EFCC’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, the operation followed credible intelligence linking the company to illegal mining operations in the state.
Among the foreign nationals arrested are Liang Qinyong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong. The Nigerian suspects include Akilu Akonimi, Umar Mohammed, Aaron Davo, Auwal Abdullahi, Haruna Umar, Prosper Goddey, Alex Long, Mathew Onmaza, Oupe Anzaku, Samson Luka, John Nwang, Saidu Mohammed, and others.
During the raid, EFCC operatives recovered a truck loaded with eight 1,000kg bags of processed monazite—each valued at approximately N4 million. Monazite is a rare earth mineral commonly used in high-tech industries.
“The arrested individuals were found within the premises of Jiasheng Nigeria Limited in possession of unprocessed solid minerals, suspected to have been illegally mined,” the EFCC stated.
The anti-graft agency reaffirmed its commitment to combating illegal mining and economic sabotage, warning that it would continue to clamp down on operations flouting Nigeria’s mining laws.
“All the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the commission added.
Illegal mining continues to pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s economy, particularly in resource-rich regions like Plateau, Zamfara, and Osun States. The EFCC urged all stakeholders in the mining sector to adhere strictly to regulatory standards and cooperate with government efforts to sanitize the industry.
