Nigerian Court Jails Four Chinese Nationals for Illegal Mining Activities

Editorial: reda El ghazal

A federal court in Nigeria has sentenced four Chinese citizens to five years in prison for engaging in illegal solid mineral mining operations in Plateau State. Delivering the verdict last Thursday, the judge convicted the defendants on charges of purchasing and possessing mineral resources without valid licenses. Prosecutors revealed that the individuals were arrested in March at a mining site operated by GLM Mining Limited, following intelligence reports linking foreign nationals to unlawful extraction activities.

Meanwhile, the court ordered the confiscation of over 134 million naira seized from one defendant and mandated the forfeiture of all illegal proceeds to the government. Each convict was given the option to pay a one-million-naira fine in lieu of imprisonment, while additional penalties totaling 16.3 million naira were imposed for violating anti-money laundering laws. Authorities also confirmed plans to deport the convicted individuals after they serve their sentences and permanently ban them from re-entering Nigeria.

The case underscores Nigeria’s intensified crackdown on illicit mining, which has drained natural resources and triggered environmental degradation in mineral-rich regions like Plateau. Recent measures aim to curb financial crimes and strengthen oversight, reflecting growing concerns over the sector’s vulnerability to exploitation. As regulatory frameworks tighten, the ruling signals a broader push to safeguard national assets and hold both local and foreign offenders accountable.