NSCDC Arrests 5 Suspects For Illegal Mining

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The NSCDC CG’s Mining Marshal has arrested 5 suspects for conspiring to sabotage the nation’s economy by engaging in illegal mining activities and other miscellaneous offences.

A statement by the Corp’s Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi says the CG’s Mining Marshal made the arrests along the Airport Road and Kuje area in Abuja.

The statement says the team has increased their intelligence apparatus in the protection of all critical National Assets and Infrastructure across the nation.

According to the statement, the Commander, CG’s mining marshal John Onoja Attah notes that the Special Squad is poised to identify various mining sites and ascertain the correct loading point of trucks and the status of buying centres being supplied.

“The need to wage war against the menace of illegal mining activities leading to economic sabotage in the nation has become very imperative as illegal mining in no doubt constitutes one of the greatest threats to the nation’s economy and security”.

It says at the point of the arrest they were in the conveyance of Solid Minerals identified as Lithium loaded in 2 Trucks which were impounded along Airport Road and Kuje area of Abuja respectively.

The names of the Suspects arrested are Okechukwu Udoka, Chimaucheya Nwakwo, Lukman Mohammed, Rabiu Umar and Surajo Isah.

The statement says during preliminary investigation, the suspects volunteered their statements and admitted to illegal possession and conveyance of Lithium adding that they have been in the business of transporting Lithium to needed Companies while beating various Security checkpoints without verification of any certification or documents.

It says that investigation has commenced into the matter after which the suspects would be made to have their time at the Court of competent jurisdiction as this would serve as a deterrent to other criminal-minded persons.

PR/Nkiru Njemanze