Five people have been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Command for possessing and transporting three truckloads of different solid minerals that were mined without a license.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale revealed this information in a statement on Tuesday. He listed the suspects as Dauda Suleiman, Quadri Oladimeji, Abubakar Alhassan, Anas Sanusi, and Auwal Garba.

With the exception of Quadri Oladimeji and Auwal Garba, who are truck lads, he claimed that the accused are truck drivers.

“Credible intelligence and days of surveillance led to their arrest, which was carried out along Maraba road, Ilorin Kwara state and Ogbomosho, Oyo state between March 21 and 22, 2024,” the statement said.

The accused were apprehended while transporting solid minerals, purportedly marble stone, white powder, lepidolite, and lithium, without a license, to Shagamu and Alakija in Ogun and Lagos State. They say they’ve been employed.

“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, according to details of the trucks recovered from the suspects.”

The anti-graft organization has already arrested people involved in illicit mining throughout the nation.

The EFCC seized 12 truckloads of various minerals that were mined without a license on February 5 and detained 41 people in connection with alleged unlawful mining activities in Ilorin. The number of people detained now stands at 46, and in the past month, 15 cars have been pulled stopped for similar offenses.

The statement stated that following the completion of the investigations, the suspects would be charged in court.