The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested five suspects for their alleged involvement in the illegal mining and transportation of ilmenite, a mineral locally known as ‘black sand’, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
The arrest, which followed weeks of surveillance along the coastal lines of Mkpanak, in Ibeno Local Government Area, was confirmed by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on friday in Abuja.
The suspects, identified as Samuel Eshiet Akwa, Willie Peter Uboko, Muhammed Tukur, Salmannu Ibrahim, and Jaafar Adam, were reportedly caught while conveying 1,200 bags of the mineral in a truck without the required authorization. The arrests underscore the EFCC’s expanded mandate to combat economic crimes related to the nation’s natural resources.
“All they had was a waybill indicating that the consignment belonged to a certain WillJane Global Ventures Ltd.
”Preliminary investigations into the matter showed that the said company, WillJane Global Ventures Ltd, 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,” he said.
He said that during questioning, the suspect confessed that they were on their way to Onne in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to make a delivery when they were arrested.
He said that the suspects were making useful statements and would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
