State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) Benue State Command, Commandant Yakubu Ibrahim has reeled out his achivements since he took over the baton of leadership of the Command six months ago.
He disclosed to newsmen the arrest and subsequent charging to court of one Sarwuan Aondohemba Godwin, male and 27 years of age for being in possession of illegal fireman.
He said the suspect was arrested following credible intelligence received from members of the public on the 21st of September 2023 at Abua Akile, along Makurdi Gboko road, and he has since being charged to court and diligent prosecution is ongoing.
In a similar vain,
Commandant Yakubu Ibrahim further said that much has been done in the fight against vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure, these efforts, he said led to the arrest of a notorious syndicate of four suspects, namely:
1. Nwoba Monday (male, 29 years)
2. Ugoh Jude (male, 33 years)
3. Njoku Ebuka Kenneth (male, 20 years)
4. Nnabu Maybe Francis (male, 25 years),
who specialises in the vandalization of transformers and other electrical installations at Aidogodo Okpoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area of the State on the 11th September, 2023.
The suspects have been charged to court and diligent prosecution is ongoing in order to bring them to justice.
Furthermore, the State Commandant also said the Command secured the conviction of one KPANDEV TERNENGE PETER, male and 38 years of age on the 4th October, 2023 to three years imprisonment for an attempt to rape a minor after a diligent prosecution.
On the issue of illegal mining, the Commandant emphasised that this act amount to great economic sabotage, because the consequences are dire to national security.
He said the Command has impounded nine (9) Trucks of twenty two tyres each from Jato Aka in Kwande Local Government Area and Apa Oweta road on the 10th October, 2023 and 19th November, 2023 with Ilminite and lithium respectively.
The Trucks with the following registration numbers;
Ogun JGB 344XB,
T 22445 LA
T 22447 LA
T 22443 LA
T 22446 LA
T 22444 LA
T 22450 LA
T 14510 LA
T 22443 LA
ALL LAGOS.
He said the war against illegal miners in the State shall not be compromised, as Government both at federal and state levels are loosing royalties and taxes that should form national revenues to the activities of these illegal miners.
The Commandant unequivocally sounded a strong warning to criminal elements to stay clear of Benue State, and turn a leaf by engaging themselves in legitimate ventures and assured every law abiding Persons carrying out legitimate business(es) in the State of the Command determination to be thorough, professional and diligent in the discharge of her constitutional assigned roles.
He promised that the Command will continue to collaborate with other Security Agencies in order to effectively deal with the issue of crime and criminality, stating further that the myriad of security challenges in the State requires the commitment of all stakeholders.