Five persons have been arrested by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for possession and conveyance of three truckloads of assorted solid minerals mined without licence.

EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, gave the names of the suspects as Dauda Suleiman, Quadri Oladimeji, Abubakar Alhassan, Anas Sanusi, and Auwal Garba. The suspects are all truck drivers except for Quadri Oladimeji and Auwal Garba, who are truck boys.

The statement read;

“Their arrest, which was effected along Maraba road, Ilorin Kwara state and Ogbomosho, Oyo state between March 21 – 22, 2024, followed credible intelligence and days of surveillance.

“The suspects were arrested while conveying solid minerals suspected to be marble stone, white powder, lithium, and lepidolite to Shagamu and Alakija in Ogun and Lagos State for commercial purposes without licence. They claim to be hired.

“Details of the trucks recovered from the suspects showed that Dauda, Abubakar, and Anas were each carrying a truck with registration numbers JJJ 206 YG, Lagos; T24413 LA, Lagos and KNT 635 XP, Niger, respectively.”