Commandant Warns Against Economic Sabotage, Urges Public Vigilance
The Edo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has intensified its fight against illegal mining and economic sabotage, arresting 15 suspects and impounding eight trucks loaded with unlawfully extracted solid minerals during a series of coordinated operations across the state.
State Commandant, Saidi Akintayo, announced the breakthrough on Monday, describing the operations as a significant step toward safeguarding Edo’s economic resources and protecting the environment. According to him, the arrests followed intelligence-led interventions conducted on November 15 and 16, targeting illegal mining activities along major transit routes.
In the first operation, six trucks allegedly carrying illegally mined kaolin clay were intercepted along the Benin–Sapele Road. The drivers and their assistants reportedly failed to produce valid authorization documents, resulting in the arrest of nine suspects. The individuals taken into custody were identified as Tobilola Moses, Laseisi Adesegun, Olayinka Dimeji, Joshua Ojo, Peter Oliga, Owolabi Gabriel, Solomon Shedrach, Adela Tannimawo, and Ibrahim Habib.
In a separate operation, the NSCDC Monitoring and Surveillance Team intercepted two trucks transporting lithium along the Ogbemudia Farm axis of Auchi Road. The documentation presented by the drivers was deemed “completely irreconcilable,” leading to the arrest of four additional suspects, including drivers Jimoh Mahmood and Abubakar Aminu, and their assistants Abdulmutallib Ibrahim, Nafiu Ibrahim, Mubarak Abdul, and AbdulKareem Nasir.
Earlier, on Saturday, the corps also arrested a man identified as Hassan Rufai near the CCA Construction axis for transporting suspected stolen items, including a solar battery, generator, plasma television, and inverter chargers.
Commandant Akintayo condemned illegal mining as a destructive economic crime, highlighting its negative impacts on state revenue, environmental sustainability, and overall security. He confirmed that all arrested suspects and impounded vehicles have been taken to the NSCDC exhibit yard for further investigation and eventual prosecution.
He further urged Edo residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, emphasizing the corps’ unwavering commitment to protecting national assets and curbing illegal mining practices across the state.
The recent operations signal the NSCDC’s determination to maintain law and order, deter illegal mineral exploitation, and ensure the sustainable development of Edo’s mineral resources, sending a clear warning to perpetrators that unlawful activities will not be tolerated.
