Fct : NSCDC Arrests 2 Vandals, 11 Illegal Miners

By Nkiru Njemanze

As part of efforts to fulfill the mandate of the Corps in preventing vandalism and protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, the NSCDC FCT Command arrested two vandals of railway infrastructure and eleven illegal miners.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Comfort Okomanyi, says the two railway vandals were arrested by Operatives of the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure unit of the command for vandalizing rail tracks and traffic lights in Wuye Area of the territory.

Also the Command in collaboration with the Nigerian Army arrested eleven suspects involved in illegal mining activities at Izom, a community located at the boundary of FCT and Niger State.

According to the statement, the FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu while parading the suspects in Abuja stressed that the proactive measures taken by the Command will serve as a deterrence to other criminals.

“Our effort is geared towards combating various forms of criminality, particularly vandalism of Critical National Assets and other public infrastructure, illegal mining activities and among others within the FCT”.

“We will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance to vandalism and there is no plan to retreat on this mission as they must all be brought to book”.

It reiterates that economic sabotage through illegal exploitation of the nation’s mineral resources not only poses serious threats to the ecosystem, and the well-being of host communities, the nation also loses billions of naira to these illegal operators.

The apprehended suspects are being investigated and would be subsequently charged to court as they are currently assisting with useful information that would determine their level of culpability or affiliation with other criminal syndicates notorious for illegal mining operations within the FCT.

The Commandant used the occasion to warn vandals of critical national assets such as the railways, illegal miners, one chance syndicates, scavengers, and kidnappers that such criminal activities will not be tolerated within the FCT again.

Edited By Grace Namiji