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No fewer than four suspects have been apprehended by the Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NDSCDC) for allegedly operating an illegal refinery in the state.
While parading the suspects at the site of the illegal refinery on Friday, the state Commandant, Usman Alfadarai, described the arrest as “a major boost in the overall fight against all forms of vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure, illegal dealing in petroleum products and related economic sabotage against our nation, Nigeria”.
Alfadarai disclosed that his men made the arrest following a 48-hour sustained surveillance within and around Obiakpu, Obuzo-Asa, in the Ukwa West area of Abia State.
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He said, “This move which comes barely one week after I took over as the Abia State commandant is a strong statement to the vandals to either turn a new leaf or relocate from the state as the corps will not give any inch of respite to the enemies of the Nigerian economy to operate.”
In another report, the Government of Enugu State have confirmed the arrest of no fewer than six persons and confiscated seven trucks in Obollo-Afor over an alleged violation of its mining ban.
The Eastern Updates reports that the arrest followed a visit to the mining site by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy and Solid Minerals, Dr Kingsley Nnaji, and the Divisional Police Officer of Obollo-Afor, CSP Ignatius Attah, on Thursday.
The News Agency Nigeria reports that the Enugu State Government had, on September 15, prohibited mining in the state, warning that infractions of the ban would be sanctioned.
Nnaji said the government sealed all illegal mining sites, few months ago, after the ban.
He said the visit followed a tip-off that illegal activities were still ongoing at some of the sealed sites.
