Three Chinese nationals have been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after being discovered residing reverse a large unlawful refinery in Ogere-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, with an expired customer’s stamp.
The foreigners have been picked up on Wednesday throughout a joint enforcement operation by the EFCC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, on the unlawful refinery web site.
DAILY POST had reported that NMDPRA officers sealed the power after underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil, waste merchandise from refining, and substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, in any other case generally known as diesel have been found.
The underground storage facility behind the location has an estimated capability of greater than 90,000 litres, with underground heating programs, water hydrants for cooling, domestically fabricated tanks and silos for separation.
The foreigners have been found residing in a constructing immediately reverse the unlawful refinery which occupies over three hectares of land.
DAILY POST noticed that their constructing was closely secured and guarded by armed operatives, proscribing entry to the premises.
When requested of their visas and residence paperwork, the international nationals may solely produce their Chinese passport with the Nigerian Immigration Service entry stamp.
The passports, sighted by DAILY POST, carried an entry stamp from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, dated May 9, 2026, with “30 days” permitted keep handwritten on it implying the customer’s move expired on June 8, 2026.
As of Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the foreigners had remained in the nation for about 5 months after expiration, with no seen residence allow, work allow, or CERPAC.
They have been subsequently arrested by EFCC operatives for additional investigation.
An EFCC official who was a part of the operation expressed concern over how the foreigners obtained immigration stamps with out visas and continued to reside in the nation months after their 30-day customer’s move expired.
He mentioned, “No visa however you’ve immigration stamp. How is that attainable? And they’re residing in our nation and dealing. Look at it. No visa however you’ve immigration stamp.”
The development has raised fresh concerns that Ogun State, particularly the Ogere-Remo corridor, is becoming a safe haven for illegal migrants engaging in economic sabotage.
Recall that barely two weeks ago, the anti-graft agency arrested 14 Chinese and one Nigerian at four illegal lithium processing plants in the Ogere area of the state.
Upon their arrest, bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four computer laptops, two decoders, a television remote control, and a trailer truck were recovered from the suspects.
