By George George Idowu
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has urged members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to refrain from collaborating with illegal miners nationwide.
Addressing executive members of the two transport unions at the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Command office in Kwara State, recently, Olukoyede stressed the importance of resisting involvement in illegal mining operations.
Olukoyede who was represented by the Ilorin Zonal Commander, Assistant Commander ACE1 Michael Nzekwe, emphasized the need to educate union members about the legal repercussions of transporting minerals without proper licenses.
He reminded union leaders that illegal mining constitutes economic sabotage punishable by life imprisonment under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983.
Olukoyede urged transport union members to verify mining licenses before providing services to miners to avoid complicity in unlawful activities.
He advised union members to deny entry to trucks loaded with solid minerals lacking proper authorization papers and to promptly report such incidents to the EFCC. Olukoyede assured that the EFCC would diligently pursue justice against perpetrators of illegal mining.
In response, Alhaji Abdulrasaki Ariwoola, representing the Chairman of the Kwara State NURTW, and Alhaji Abdulrahman Onikijipa, representing the Chairman of the Kwara State RTEAN, expressed gratitude to the EFCC for the enlightenment session.
They pledged full support from their members to collaborate with the Commission in combating illegal mining activities in the state.
The Ilorin Zonal Command recently conducted operations resulting in the arrest of 41 suspects and the seizure of 12 trucks transporting various solid minerals across different locations in Kwara and Oyo states.