From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi Zonal Directorate says it has set up an Extractive Industry Fraud Section (EIFS) to check the activities of illegal miners in Benue state.
The Zonal Director, Makurdi Zonal Command, Dr Anselem Ozioko, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen in his office in Makurdi.
Dr Ozioko who noted that there are so many illegal mining sites in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states which are under his directorate, said the command now have a section that ensures that those who engage in illegal mining activities without the requisite documents will be punished.
He said “Illegal mining is one common thing in Benue and because of the size of this directorate, we now have a section that deals with it.”
The EFCC boss disclosed that “the directorate has set up an Extractive Industry Fraud Section( EIFS) and under one month, the command has already secured 10 convictions in the section.
“Under the section those we found with solid mineral including Iron ore who didn’t have the requisite license, we convicted all of them including the manager who came to shortee the bail of his drivers.”
Ezioko who noted that no offender would be spared warned that anyone caught would be punished as required by law.
While stating that the directorate is going into the new year more committed to rid the state of fraudulent activities, the Commission’s boss advised the people to report such activities to them saying “once there is any atom of dishonesty in financial business, come to EFCC.”
He however lamented that despite their success within the short period of time under his watch, the command had faced challenges in dealing with activities of illegal mining especially in reaching the areas of their activities.
He said “They are in the hinterlands and they are very dangerous people and it’s not easy to access them. Sometimes we cannot penetrate those areas because of security implications.”
He said “but we are thinking outside the box to ensure that we get them. If we cannot get them we know where to wait for them.”