The Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Commandant Basil Igwebueze has paraded 34 suspects for allegedly carrying out illegal mining operations at Rumuokarali/ Rumualogu community in Rivers State, while One (1) other suspect was paraded alongside for attempting to have canal knowledge of a 15 year old girl.
In his address to the news men at the Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt; Commandant Basil affirmed that the arrests were made possible through credible Intelligence and the collaborative efforts of the patrol team of NSCDC Sold minerals Unit, the Federal Ministry of mines and steel and Ministerial Task Force on illegal mining who swiftly swung into action to apprehend the suspects while perpetrating the act.
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“With the collaborative efforts of our men, the Federal Ministry of mines and steel and Ministerial Task force on illegal mining which includes: EFCC NSCDC, DSS, Nigeria Police, Immigration Service and Nigerian, the 34 suspects were caught in the act of dredging sharp sands illegally thereby causing environmental degradation in the area and three dredging machines were retrieved at the crime scene.
” In addition a Chinese man was sighted at the scene of the crime as information revealed that he is notorious for engaging in illegal mining activities. He however escaped through the back gate of a nearby Hotel in Choba, Obio/Akpo Local Government Area. While tracing the suspect our personnel heard the cry of a young lady who said her Sister of 15years old have been lured into one of the hotel rooms.
” After a thorough search our men were able to rescue the 15year old girl from the hand of one Mr Daniel Mathew who is now in custody and currently under interrogations”.
The State Commandant said thorough investigations would be carried out to ascertain the level of involvement of each suspect in offences charged after which diligent prosecution would be carried out in the Court of competent jurisdiction.
He further advised the public to report all act of criminalities in their terrain to the NSCDC and other security agencies urging that: “If you see something please say something.”