The Ebonyi Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Tuesday sealed an illegal mining site at Ameka in Ezza South Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi.
It also sealed an illegal gas refilling plant at 135 junction in Ezzangbo of Ohaukwu LGA located at a densely populated residential area.
Mr Francis Nnadi, the state Commandant who led the operations, told newsmen in Abakaliki that the action was in line with the corps’ mandate.
Nnadi said that those who engaged in illegal mining activities were robbing the state and the Federal Government of legitimate revenue hence committing economic sabotage.
The NSCDC boss assured that the command would stop at nothing to ensure that illegal mining and other criminal economic activities that could rob the state and federal governments off of legitimate revenue were stemmed.
“There was a complaint about an illegal mining site located at Ameka in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
“I moved in with my men to condone off the place and the suspects in the illegal mining operation; Messrs Udoka Obaji ’40’, Azubuike Nwinyi ’46’ and Monday Nweke all from Ameka community are in our custody.
“I want to use this opportunity to warn those who are into illegal mining in Ebonyi to stay clear because a new NSCDC has come out to enforce the law and to make sure that economic sabotage is nipped in the bud with other relevant agencies.
“These are places where the state and federal governments generate revenues; we will not allow people to keep tapping from our natural resources illegally,” Nnadi said.
He urged mining and quarry operators to ensure that they backed up their activities by obtaining mining licence and relevant documents and papers duly approved by relevant issuing authorities.
On the sealing of illegal mini-cooking gas refilling station at 135 Junction at Ezzangbo in Ohaukwu, the commandant said that the siting of the gas station was in clear breach of extant laws.
The NSCDC boss said that the 2.8 tonnes of gas plant was situated in a densely populated residential area, adding that the lives, safety and property of the residents were being endangered.
“The gas plant is located in a residential area where the people cook with firewood and even children play around in the area.
“We need to let the public know the hazardous nature of this business and the danger inherent in siting it in a residential area.
“The suspect, has no requisite documentation to permit him to go into this kind of business in this kind of area.
“I want to use this opportunity to warn against engaging in such practices; we should remember the wildfire in Los Angeles in the United States, this is more hazardous than wildfire,” he said.
The NSCDC boss said that the sealing of the illegal mining site and the gas plant would remain in force until the end of investigation and assured that suspects would soon be arraigned at the end of investigation. (