The State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested several suspected illegal miners and operators of a gas plant without a license in Southeast state, Ebonyi.
This was disclosed by the State Commandant of the corps, Francis Chika Nnadi, in a statement reported by the state-owned TV on Thursday.
The operation was led by Mr Nnadi, who ordered the shutdown of a 228-ton micro gas plant located at 135, Ezzamgbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area and an illegal mining site at Eka in the Ezza North council area of the state.
Briefing the press at the illegal lead and zinc mining site, he revealed that his command acted on a tip-off and arrested the miners, who had leased the land and been operating without the requisite license.
Nnadi lamented the significant economic sabotage caused by the offenders, stressing that mining should be a veritable source of revenue for the host states and the federal government.
He warned that the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps would no longer stand by and watch such economic wastage, calling on all illegal miners in Ebonyi State to desist from such activities. He emphasized that the corps has the mandate to enforce the law alongside other security agencies.
The Commandant also condemned the environmental hazards posed by operating the site in a residential area, stressing that extant laws prohibit such activities.
Regarding the gas plant, Commandant Nnadi expressed concern over the location of the highly flammable Blue Flame LPG gas plant in a densely populated area.
One of the suspects, Oge Dandy, claimed he was unaware that the gas plant was situated in a residential area. According to him, he resides in Plateau State and had given someone money to establish the plant on his behalf.
Nnadi stated that the suspects would eventually be arraigned in court after all necessary investigations are concluded.
The rate of illegal mining in Nigeria is unprecedented and the government of President Tinubu is cracking down on illegal mining activities, with hundreds of arrests made by a joint task force involving the armed forces, police and civil defence.
The country loses about $9 billion annually to poor mining practices, with only 3% royalty paid into government coffers by the few licensed miners operating across the country. Illegal mining not only sabotages government revenue but also devastates farmlands, crops, and economic trees, reducing their benefits and value to host communities.
Another sector of Nigeria’s extractive industry that suffers from sabotage is the petroleum sector, where decades of sabotage and vandalism have heavily impacted national revenues and economic stability.
The challenges facing the sector often stem from various factors, including oil theft, oil spills, and pipeline vandalism, which often result in environmental damage.
In recent years, Nigeria has experienced numerous incidents of oil theft and pipeline vandalism. In September 2022, the country lost 470,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) due to such activities, amounting to a monthly loss of $700 million.
