Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested two men allegedly linked to an armed syndicate accused of forcibly taking over a licensed mining site and driving away legitimate miners in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The suspects, Stephen Ibang Francis, 34, and Oduwo Emmanuel Obasi, 24, were arrested at a mining site in Agba Iyam following intelligence provided by members of the public.
The Cross River Commandant of the NSCDC, Okarama Chuna, disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Calabar.
According to Chuna, operatives recovered two locally fabricated firearms and 16 rounds of live ammunition during the raid.
He said investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly operated as armed enforcers targeting licensed miners, using weapons to intimidate and forcibly remove them from mining locations.
“They operate as armed enforcers. Their main target is legitimate miners. Their operation involves forcefully arming themselves with locally fabricated firearms, storming mining sites and chasing the mining sites at Agba Iyam community.
“They use these weapons to systematically terrorise, intimidate and violently displace the genuine miners from the site. Once the legal operators flee out of fear for their lives, these criminals take over and work collaboratively over the site to illegally mine and cart away precious solid minerals,” Chuna explained.
The commandant described the operation as a significant breakthrough in efforts to tackle illegal mining and the alleged plundering of Cross River’s solid mineral resources.
Chuna warned illegal miners and armed groups operating in the state’s forests that the NSCDC would intensify operations against criminal activities linked to illegal mining.
“There will be no era of intimidating legitimate investors and plundering our commonwealth. That era is over. Solid minerals constitute critical national assets,” he said.
“To those who think they can bear unauthorised arms to intimidate lawful miners and investors, we have superior firepower, we have the intelligence network, and we have the will to crush them,” the commandant added.
He assured licensed miners that the Corps would provide security support to enable them to operate safely, while investigations would continue to identify and apprehend other suspected members of the syndicate.
“The suspects and exhibits are currently in custody and have made useful statements. The command is expanding investigations to apprehend more fleeing members of the syndicates,” Chuna said.
He added that the suspects would be prosecuted after investigations for alleged offences including illegal mining, unlawful possession of firearms and intimidation.
The commandant commended residents who provided information that led to the arrests and encouraged the public to continue reporting suspicious activities.
“I appreciate members of the public for giving us credible information. When you see something and say something, you are helping to protect your communities,” he said.
