Fresh Trouble In Ogere-Remo As EFCC Arrests Three Chinese Men During Refinery Raid

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested three Chinese nationals discovered living opposite a massive illegal refinery in Ogere-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, over concerns about their immigration status.

The foreigners were arrested on Wednesday, November 4, during a joint enforcement operation involving the EFCC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) at the illegal refinery site.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the three Chinese nationals were found in a building directly opposite the facility, which occupies more than three hectares of land. Their residence was reportedly heavily secured, with armed operatives restricting access to the premises.

During checks, the foreigners reportedly presented their Chinese passports bearing entry stamps issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on May 9, 2026.

The stamps indicated that they had been granted permission to stay in Nigeria for 30 days, meaning their visitor’s permits expired on June 8, 2026. However, as of November 4, they had reportedly remained in the country for approximately five months beyond the permitted period.

The passports presented by the suspects reportedly did not contain visible evidence of valid residence permits, work permits or Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC).

An EFCC official involved in the operation expressed concern over how the foreigners obtained immigration entry stamps without visas and continued residing in Nigeria long after their permitted stay had expired.

The official questioned the circumstances surrounding their entry into the country and their continued presence, particularly amid concerns that they might have been involved in activities connected to the illegal refinery.

The arrests followed the discovery of an extensive underground storage and processing facility at the site, which had earlier been sealed by NMDPRA officials.

During the inspection, authorities reportedly uncovered underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil, refining waste products and substances believed to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.

The underground storage facility was estimated to have a capacity exceeding 90,000 litres. It reportedly contained underground heating systems, water hydrants for cooling, locally fabricated tanks and silos designed for separating different substances.

The latest arrests have raised concerns about the activities of foreign nationals operating around suspected illegal industrial facilities in Ogun State, particularly along the Ogere-Remo corridor.

The development also comes barely two weeks after the EFCC reportedly arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian at four suspected illegal lithium processing plants in the Ogere area.

During that operation, officials recovered bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four laptops, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck from the suspects.

The three Chinese nationals arrested in the latest operation are expected to undergo further investigation as authorities examine their immigration status and possible links to activities at the illegal refinery.