From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi Zonal Directorate, has established an Extractive Industry Fraud Section (EIFS) to checkmate the activities of illegal miners in Benue state.
The Zonal Director, Makurdi Zonal Command, Dr Anselem Ozioko, disclosed this during interactive session with newsmen in his office in Makurdi.
He explained that there are so many illegal mining sites in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states which are directly under his purview.
According to him, the command has decided to create the section so as to monitor those who engage in illegal mining activities without the requisite documents and ensure that they are punished.
“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.”
Ozioko 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.
“No offender would be spared. I want to warn that anyone caught would be punished as required by law.
“The directorate had gone into the new year more committed to rid the state of fraudulent activities.
He advised the people to report such activities to them saying “once there is any atom of dishonesty in financial business, come to EFCC.”
“Despite our success within the short period of time under my watch, the command had faced challenges in dealing with activities of illegal mining especially in reaching the areas of their activities.
“We 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.”
“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.”
