The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Capital Territory Command, has said it arrested 51 suspected illegal miners and three telecommunication mast vandals.
The NSCDC FCT commandant, Olusola Odumosu, made this disclosure during a chat with newsmen on Monday at the command’s headquarters.
Odumosu explained that the three suspected vandals were nabbed by the command’s intelligence and undercover operatives following a security tip-off of the dismantling activity at Giri area of the FCT.
He noted that before the decommissioning of a mast, an approval must be obtained from the NSCDC, being the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.
The NSCDC commandant stated that the suspects, during interrogation by the command’s anti-vandal unit, were unable to show any approval paper.
“Neither do they have any proper means of identification showing who they are and the company they are working for.
“Upon further questioning, they revealed that a a certain businessman had already been paid the sum of N4 million ahead of the dismantling which raised suspicion of a premeditated act of vandalism.
“Ongoing investigation is being carried out to determine his level of culpability and ownership claim, after which necessary action will be taken,” he said.
Odumosu revealed that in a similar operation, 51 suspects were also arrested in Gwagwalada area of the FCT for engaging in illegal mining activities.
He stressed that the suspects, all male, had been profiled and had no evidence of operating under a registered company, as well as no exploration and mining licence.
“All acts of illegal mining encroach on the soil and cause environmental degradation and erosion, and that is why most of these areas are no longer useful for agricultural and human activities,” Odumosu said.
The commandant stated that after a thorough investigation of both cases, the suspects would be charged in court.
The exhibits recovered from the 54 suspects, according to the commandant, to include dismantled metal mast parts, and five pumping machines.
He said unquantified amount of substance alleged to be gold dust, pumping holes, 10 litres of fuel, shovels, diggers and a head pan were seized.
He then warned vandals and other criminals in the FCT to relocate as the NSCDC is determined to flush out criminal elements in the territory.
