The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC says it has arrested four Chinese Nationals and 54 Nigerians for alleged illegal mining in Jos Plateau state and in Minna Niger state. The Plateau State arrests made before the recent ed Il Fitri Muslim festival has also led to a hunt for the “big guns behind illegal mining in the state.
EFCC Zonal Director in charge of Niger and Kaduna States, Mr. Bawa Shehu Kaltungo, said during a courtesy visit on the Niger State Council Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ Comrade Abu Nmodu that 33 of the Illegal Miners apprehended were picked up from various illegal mining sites in Niger State.
“We have identified those big guns behind the illegal mining; they said they went outside the country. We have contacted them to report to our office when they arrive the country,” Kaltungo said.
Kaltungo also disclosed that during a recent raid on a hotel in Minna Niger state 11 youths were arrested for alleged cybercrime.
He declared that Niger State “is now a haven for cyber-crime; we will not allow this continue” adding that if the increasing rate of perpetration of cybercrime is not checked Nigeria will not have good leaders because those involved in the crime are youths who are leaders of tomorrow.
Kaltungo therefore solicited for the cooperation of the media in the war against cybercrime and illegal mining insisting that “the media should own the fight.”
In his remarks the state NUJ Chairman Comrade Abu Nmodu pledged the support of journalists to the war against cybercrime which he said has been giving the country bad image.
