Eight Chinese nationals and one Nigerian have been remanded in prison, over alleged illegal mining activities in the country.
The Federal Government said the suspects were arrested in Lokpaukwu community, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
In a statement released on Friday, Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, said the suspects were arrested by operatives of the mining marshal.
The mining marshal is a security outfit carved out of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). It is tasked with ridding the mining sector of illegal operators.
Tomori stated that the suspects were arraigned on Thursday before James Omotosho, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suspects were remanded on a three-count charge bordering on “mining without lawful authority, obstruction of lawful mining operations, among others”.
During the arguments of the prosecution and defence in court, the judge ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the resumption of trial.
He named the suspects as Shen Yongchan, Mo Baixian, Xiao Bin, Huang Xu Fa, Ma Bingli, Yang Jian, Li Peiyin, Que Wenyong, Hiyk Edward Desmond, and Wanda Company Limited.
Tomori added that the minister is committed to enhancing the mining marshals’ operations through technology and deployment of additional equipment.
