The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Cross River State Command, has arrested two suspects allegedly linked to an armed syndicate that terrorised licensed miners in Yakurr Local Government Area of the state and illegally occupied their mining site.
The State Commandant, Okarama Chuna, disclosed this to journalists at the command headquarters on Wednesday in Calabar while parading the suspects.
He said, “Operatives of the Corps stormed a mining site in Agba Iyam in Yakurr LGA of the state following credible intelligence from members of the public.
“During the raid, the operatives apprehended Stephen Ibang Francis, 34, and Oduwo Emmanuel Obasi, 24, both natives of Nkpani village in Yakurr LGA.”
He added that the suspects were found in possession of two locally fabricated firearms and 16 rounds of live ammunition.
The commandant said investigations revealed that the suspects were not just illegal miners but armed enforcers who had turned the mining site into a theatre of violence.
“They operate as armed enforcers. Their main target is legitimate miners. Their operation involves forcefully arming themselves with locally fabricated firearms, storming mining sites and chasing the mining sites at Agba Iyam community.
“They use these weapons to systematically terrorise, intimidate and violently displace the genuine miners from the site. Once the legal operators flee out of fear for their lives, these criminals take over and work collaboratively over the site to illegally mine and cart away precious solid minerals,” he explained.
The commandant further described the raid as a major breakthrough in the command’s aggressive and ongoing kinetic operations against economic saboteurs plundering the state’s solid mineral resources.
Chuna also issued a stern warning to other illegal miners and armed syndicates operating in the forests of Cross River, stressing that the Corps would embark on a definitive and uncompromising crackdown on illegal miners and armed syndicates hiding under the guise of mining.
“There will be no era of intimidating legitimate investors and plundering our commonwealth. That era is over. Solid minerals constitute critical national assets.
“To those who think they can bear unauthorised arms to intimidate lawful miners and investors, we have superior firepower, we have the intelligence network, and we have the will to crush them,” the commandant said.
The commandant assured that legitimate and licensed miners would be given the necessary security cover to operate peacefully and contribute to the state’s economic development, adding that the command was expanding its investigations to apprehend more fleeing members of the syndicate.
“The suspects and exhibits are currently in custody and have made useful statements. The command is expanding investigations to apprehend more fleeing members of the syndicates.
“Once investigations are concluded, they will be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction for illegal mining, unlawful possession of firearms, intimidation and illegal mining,” he said.
The commandant also commended members of the public who tipped off the command and urged them to continue to volunteer information.
“I appreciate members of the public for giving us credible information. When you see something and say something, you are helping to protect your communities,” he said.