The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a Chinese national, Mu Hua Qiang, 45, for alleged involvement in illegal mining activities in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area.
Police spokesperson, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, said Qiang’s arrest was made possible through the collaboration of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and the enforcement team of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, a state-backed taskforce responsible for promoting environmental order and sustainability.
“The suspect was first apprehended by operatives of the taskforce while conducting mining operations within the Aguleri axis,” Ikenga explained in a statement on Saturday. “He was later handed over to police operatives attached to the SCID on Friday evening. His statement has been voluntarily obtained, and he has been placed in lawful custody for further investigation.”
Ikenga stressed that the arrest demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in enforcing laws against illegal mining, which remains a growing concern in Anambra and other parts of the country.
Nigeria’s Minerals and Mining Act (1999) prohibits mining without a licence, vesting ownership of mineral resources in the federal government and granting exploration and mining rights through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. However, weak enforcement has allowed illegal operators—both locals and foreigners—to thrive across mining communities.
Recent convictions underscore the seriousness of the offence. In March, the Federal High Court in Ilorin sentenced two Chinese nationals to two years’ imprisonment for illegal mining, while in June, five Nigerians received one-year jail terms in Minna for similar offences.
Authorities in Anambra said Qiang will be prosecuted once investigations are concluded.
