NSCDC Nabs 13 Vandals Illegal Miners In FCT

Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command have arrested two suspected vandals of railway infrastructure and eleven suspects involved in illegal mining activities.

The 13 suspected vandals and illegal miners were arrested in FCT.

Comfort Okomanyi, the spokesperson of the corps in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), revealed in a statement on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, that two railway vandals were arrested by the operatives of the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure unit of the command, for willfully vandalising rail tracks, and traffic lights in the Wuye Area of the territory.

The joint effort of The Command and the Nigerian Army led to the apprehension of 11 suspects engaged in illicit mining operations at Izom, a community situated on the border of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Niger State.

Parading the suspects at the command, the FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, noted that the proactive measures taken by the Command would serve as deterrence to other criminals within the territory.

“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,” he said.

“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.

“I have vowed that there is no hiding place for evil perpetrators, so in this vein, active efforts are underway to apprehend their masterminds who are still at large,”

He reiterated that economic sabotage through illegal exploitation of the nation’s mineral resources not only poses serious threats to the ecosystem but also makes the country lose billions of naira to illegal operators.

“We remain committed and dedicated to ridding FCT of criminalities and we are working tirelessly to identify and apprehend individuals or groups engaged in criminal activities that undermine the safety and prosperity of the citizens,” the Commandant assured.

“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 issued a stern warning to individuals involved in the vandalism of critical national assets, one-chance syndicates, scavengers, and kidnappers that such criminal activities will no longer be tolerated within the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).