NSCDC Boss, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi
Operatives of Solid Mineral unit of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), yesterday arrested three people for alleged Illegal mining activities in Ugbokodo waterside in Okpe Local Council of Delta State.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Emeka Okwechime, who confirmed the arrest, told The Guardian in Asaba that the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence.
Okwechime identified the suspects as, Eze Emmanuel ‘m’ 32, (Ebonyi State), Samuel Ige ‘m’ 40, (Delta State) and Isa Idris ‘m’, 18 (Kano State).
He said although the suspects have been granted administrative bail, they would soon be charged to court when investigations are concluded.
NSCDC spokesperson said the spate of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal dealings in petroleum products and other illegalities will become history by Deember.
He said the Delta State Commandant of NSCDC, Akinsanya Iskilu, has ordered his men to bring down the low, high and mighty to justice, through a well coordinated, but radical approach launched by men of the Commandant Tactical Squad (CTS) and the rejigged Anti-Vandal Squad (RAS).
“The squad were charged to comb all forest, bushes, compounds, creeks, water bodies, stations, dump site, dump yard, premises sufficiently suspected to be used for Illegal dealings in petroleum products or are involved in the act of sabotage.
“Others are trucks; boats; Sport Utility Vans (SUVs); vandalised items; power installations; telecommunications; railway installations and other public infrastructure,” he added.
While recounting the achievements of the Command, Okwechime said the Command in a parallel operation, decimated artisanal refineries in Alfa marine in Koko, Warri North Council, revealing that the suspects jumped into rivers upon sighting men of RAS.
He said that large metal tanks, drums containing petroleum products suspected to be AGO , hose and other equipment used by vandals in illegal dealings in petroleum products were crushed and set ablaze by operatives.