 The Ilarian Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested 13 Chinese nationals of offences bordering on illegal mining activities in the state. The Zonal Commander of the Antigraft Agency, Michael Nzikwe, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Ilarian state capital. The suspects, according to the EFCC, include a female and 12 males who were arrested at the government residential area following credible intelligence about their activities. They were also bordering on allegations of illegal mining and non-payment of royalties to the federal government as required by law. They are 13 in number. If female and 12th male, they were arrested, like I said, for illegal mining. They were mining in areas where they didn't have license to. And they were also into mining stones for quarry. They also breached the provisions of the Money Laundering Act. They don't have a SCUMO certificate, they don't register with SCUMO, they don't pay royalties, there's no evidence of payment of royalties. Other issues are also being handled by immigration, you know, a sister agency. Of the 13 we arrested, we only five have their passports. The other remaining of them don't have passports with them, but we are also bringing the immigration to look at that aspect. As Nzikwe said, the development's potent great security danger for the nation, while also assuring the EFCC's readiness to constantly sanitise the mining sector in Nigeria. Illegal mining comes with so much danger. You know, there's the part of insecurity that this could lead to, especially in states like this. We'll see what is happening in Zanfara and other places. We're trying to also see EFCC how we can give our best to ensure that that sector is sanitised so that legal miners only can take over.