Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested three Chinese nationals found living opposite an illegal refinery in Ogere-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The suspects were arrested on Wednesday during a joint operation involving the EFCC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The arrest followed the discovery of an illegal refinery where officials reportedly found underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil, refining waste and substances believed to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
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The facility, which covers more than three hectares, reportedly contains underground storage tanks with a capacity exceeding 90,000 litres, heating equipment, cooling systems, locally made tanks and silos used for separating substances.
The three foreigners were found in a heavily guarded building directly opposite the refinery. When officials requested their immigration documents, they reportedly presented only Chinese passports bearing Nigerian Immigration Service entry stamps.
The passports showed that they entered Nigeria through Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on May 9, 2026, with permission to stay for 30 days. This meant their visitor’s permission expired on June 8.
However, the suspects were still in Nigeria as of November 4, about five months after their permitted stay had ended. They reportedly could not provide residence permits, work permits or CERPAC documents.
EFCC operatives subsequently took them into custody for further investigation.
An official involved in the operation questioned how the foreigners obtained entry stamps without visas and continued living and working in Nigeria after their visitor permits expired.
The arrests have raised concerns about illegal foreign activities in the Ogere-Remo area, particularly those linked to economic sabotage.
About two weeks earlier, the EFCC arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian at four suspected illegal lithium processing facilities in the same area.
Items recovered during that operation included bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile phones, four laptops, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
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