Chinese nationals detained in Lagos for illegally operating poisonous waste plant (pictures)

Two Chinese nationals, Lin Piehao, 22, and Li Ruoneng, 27, were detained  by officers of the Lagos State Police Command for supposedly running an illegal e-waste plant in the state's Ikeja region. E-waste adds to degradation of the environment with adverse impacts on human health such as inflammation and oxidative stress precursors to cardiovascular disease, harm to DNA and potentially cancer.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Bala Elkana, who confirmed their arrest, said that the Chinese nationals whose visas to Nigeria have since expired were arrested by a team led by the Commander Area F, Akinsoji Adebayo, Assistant Police Commissioner (ACP), at their illegal factory at 19 Sule Abuka Street, Opebi in Ikeja on Monday night, August 5.

One of the police officers who took part in the Chinese nationals ' arrest said, "We got a tip-off about their activities and we stormed and arrested them there. We also found that the company's two brains are illegally staying in Nigeria. They went to Lagos in May and were given a month's visa, but they surpassed their stay and work illegally in Nigeria.

"We're going to explore the sources of the gadgets that they're picking up here. We'll also explore how such a damaging company came about in this region. What they do here could cause other inhabitants severe health problems, "a police source said.

One of the arrested Chinese nationals, Piehao, said they generally purchased panels from engineers and scrap vendors when interrogated.

“We buy phone panels (Android and Nokia panels). We buy them from phone repairers and scrap sellers. We remove the panel I.C. with machine and then ship it to China and Vietnam. We have some Nigerian casual workers in our factory but we give them the rules and urge them to be discrete before they join us. We actually came into Nigeria with one month visa to explore the country and study to know the business we can do, but our boss in China urged us to open the factory and we have been enjoying Nigeria and did not want to go back despite the expiration of our visa.
“I do not have work permit. I know it is a crime to work without work permit, but the e-waste business is very lucrative. We do a lot to ensure that the smoke from the e-waste does not affect the environment where we operate,” he said