The Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has said that it has apprehended 10 suspects for their involvement in illegal mining operations, criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of Feldspars mineral.
The Commandant, Augustine Padonu, who briefed journalists on the arrest in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Samuel Opebiyi, gave the names of the 10 suspects as Adewale Akinkunmi (35) who was the site manager; Justine Egejuru male, (52), a site attendant; Gbadamosi Abeeb (36), driver; Mustapha (42), driver and Ayuba Abdul Rahman (27), also a driver.
Others are Hammed Abass (21), Bolarinwa Hassan (34), Jimoh Kudus (17), Sanni Ayuba (19) and Usman Umar (25), all motor boys.
The commandant said that Akinkunmi and Justine Egejuru were staff of Baykad Enterprises, Ikeja, Lagos State while Abeeb and the remaining were employees of CNG Glass Manufacturing Company, Igbesa, Ogun State.
He made it known that three trucks of feldspar were loaded in Ido Local Government area of the state.
“The special squad of Mines and Steel intercepted and arrested the suspects and seized the three trucks at about 5pm on May 27, 2024, with 200 tonnes of feldspar loaded illegal on each truck without appropriate licence from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and royalty paid to the Federal Government.
“Exhibit recovered includes the three trucks with registration number, FZE 170 OG, (OGFTS), FZE 172 OG (OGFTZ) and FZE 268 OG (OGFTZ),” the Commandant stated.
Investigation revealed that the three trucks were to deliver the product to CNG Glass Manufacturing Company at Igbesa, Ogun State.
Padonu said that the State Command of the NSCDC remained resolute in its fight against illegal mining and would not relent in bringing saboteurs to book.
He urged members of the public to be vigilant, more security conscious and always provide useful information to NSCDC and other security agencies so as to nip crime in the bud in Oyo State.
He added that the 10 suspects would be arraigned in a court of law after the conclusion of the investigation.
The Zonal Mines Officer, South West Zonal Office, Ibadan, Engineer Olugbenga Ajayi, who was present at the parade of the suspects, commended the State Command for the significant arrest.
He emphasized that the successful apprehension of the suspects was a testament to the dedication and vigilance of NSCDC in combating illegal mining operations in the state.
Engineer Ajayi further said that such illegal mining not only undermines the government efforts to regulate the mining industry but also poses threat to the nation’s economy.
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