NSCDC nabs illegal miners, rail track vandals in FCT

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC) FCT Command has arrested two suspected vandals of railway infrastructure and 11 illegal miners.

Okomanyi Comfort, the spokesperson of NSCDC FCT command, in a statement on Tuesday, said the two railway vandals were arrested by the Operatives of the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure unit of the command for willfully vandalizing rail tracks and traffic lights in Wuye Area of the territory.

“In the same vein, the Command in collaboration with the Nigerian Army arrested 11 suspects involved in illegal mining activities at Izom, a community located at the boundary of FCT and Niger State,” the statement said.

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

Odumosu stated: “Our effort is geared towards combating various forms of criminality, particularly vandalism of Critical National Assets and other public infrastructure, illegal mining activities and 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.

“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, and the well-being of the host communities, but the nation also loses billions of naira to these illegal operators.

The apprehended suspects are being investigated and will be subsequently charged in 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.