The foreigners were arrested on Wednesday, November 4, during a joint enforcement operation by the EFCC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) at the illegal refinery.
The operation followed the discovery of an underground storage facility allegedly used for heating and processing sludge oil, waste products from refining, and substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
NMDPRA officials had sealed the facility after discovering underground tanks with an estimated storage capacity of more than 90,000 litres, alongside underground heating systems, water hydrants for cooling, locally fabricated tanks and silos used for separation.
According to DAILY POST, the three Chinese nationals were discovered living in a heavily secured building directly opposite the illegal refinery, which occupies more than three hectares of land.
When questioned about their immigration documents, the foreigners reportedly produced only their Chinese passports bearing Nigerian Immigration Service entry stamps.
The passports, sighted by the publication, showed that they entered Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on May 9, 2026, with a permitted stay of 30 days, meaning their visitor's permits expired on June 8.
However, as of November 4, the trio had reportedly remained in Nigeria for nearly five months after the expiration of their permits, without visible residence permits, work permits or Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC).
They were subsequently arrested by EFCC operatives for further investigation.
An EFCC official who participated in the operation reportedly questioned how the foreigners obtained immigration stamps without visas and continued living and working in Nigeria months after their permitted stay expired.
He said: “No visa but you have immigration stamp. How is that possible? And they are living in our country and working. Look at it. No visa but you have immigration stamp.”
The development comes amid growing scrutiny of illegal industrial activities in the Ogere-Remo area.
Barely two weeks earlier, the EFCC reportedly arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian at four illegal lithium processing plants in the same area.
Items recovered during that operation included bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four laptop computers, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
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