Operatives of the State Security Service on Monday in Minna, Niger State paraded two Chinese arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal mining and exportation of gemstones.
The suspects are Mr. Lu Xiaoyong and Huaiming Geng.
The SSS Director in the state, Dr. Larry Obiagwu, while addressing reporters, said the Chinese allegedly carried out the illegal activities with a Nigerian, Mr. Mohammed Bello.
Bello, he added, served as a mediator between the locals, who dug the gemstones and the Chinese.
The illegal mining activities reportedly took place at Koyugba, Paikoro Local Government.
Obiagwu said, “Xiaoyong was arrested with Mohammed Bello and they are being charged along with his accomplice Huaiming Geng, who was apprehended at Okada road in Minna as he attempted to escape in a GolfVolkswagen car with number plate Plateau AWN71AA.”
He said the command’s investigation had established that Geng and Xiaoyong paid about N3m to the locals in connection with the illegal business and had planned to exploit more sites before their arrest.
He promised that the arraignment of the suspects before a competent courtwould soon take place.
Xiaoyong, who spoke through an interpreter, claimed he had the permit to do the business in Nigeria and that he only went to Paikoro to buy the products.
Meanwhile, the command also arrested four suspects, Makun Ibrahim (Spaco), Chindo Salihu, Abdullahi Isah and John Bassey, for their alleged involvement in the vandalisation of armoured cables belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria and Nigeria Telecommunication Limited.
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