The Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Safety and Civil Protection Corps has arrested 51 suspected unlawful miners and three suspected vandals of telecommunications masts within the space.
Command spokesperson Samuel Idoko reported this in an announcement signed on Monday.
Based on the assertion, the NSCDC FCT Commander, Olusola Odumosu, disclosed that “51 suspects have been arrested in Gwagwalada space of the FCT for involvement in unlawful mining actions.”
Odumosu defined that the suspects, all males, have been profiled and had no proof of a registered firm beneath which they operated, nor did they’ve an exploration and mining license.
“All acts of unlawful mining degrade the soil and trigger environmental degradation and erosion and that’s the reason most of those areas are not usable for agricultural and human actions,” Odumosu added.
He stated that after totally investigating each instances, the suspects can be charged in court docket for additional disciplinary motion that can function a deterrent to others.
Proof discovered among the many 54 suspects included dismantled steel mast elements and 5 pumping machines.
“Unquantified quantity of mud, suspected gold mud, pump hoses, ten liters of gas, shovels, excavators and primary pan,” the commander stated.
Equally, Odumosu famous that the three vandalism suspects have been apprehended by the Corps of Essential Nationwide Property and Infrastructure Unit following a tip-off from the FCT Command Intelligence and undercover operatives on the dismantling actions within the Giri space.
He stated that earlier than dismantling any tower, “an approval for such an act should be obtained from the NSCDC, which is the lead company within the discipline of safety of vital nationwide belongings and infrastructure within the nation.”
The commander introduced that the suspects couldn’t present approval from the corps throughout interrogation by the Anti-Vandal Unit of the Command.
“In addition they should not have a great technique of identification that reveals who they’re and which firm they work for.
“On additional questioning, they revealed {that a} sure businessman had already obtained the sum of N4 million for the dismantling, elevating suspicion of a premeditated act of vandalism.
“Ongoing investigations are being carried out to find out his diploma of culpability and possession declare after which essential motion can be taken,” he stated.