NSCDC nab four illegal miners in Ebonyi

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ebonyi State has apprehended four individuals involved in illegal mining activities.

The arrests were made at a mining site in Ameka, Ezza South Local Government Area, and in Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area.

During the operation, the NSCDC sealed off the mining pit and extended their raid to a gas plant located at 135 Ezzamgbo.

The gas plant, built within a residential area surrounded by churches, shops, and other structures, raised serious safety concerns.

Speaking at the scene, the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Francis Nnadi, highlighted the environmental and safety risks posed by the suspects’ activities. He noted that their operations posed significant hazards to both the environment and public health.

He wondered why mining should be taking place in a place where people are living around and gas plants also established where people also reside.

Nnadi warned that the command would not allow any activity that would endanger people’s lives and vowed that the suspects would be prosecuted.

He observed that the suspects did not get licenses from relevant agencies before engaging in the mining and gas businesses.

“This is almost 2.8 tons of gas plant located where people are living. These are residential buildings and you can even see that they cook around there.

“You can see children playing around. This is also a church beside this gas plant. We need to let the general public know about the hazard nature of this business. No requisite documents to permit this kind of business in this kind of environment.

“I want to use thii opportunity to warn Ebonyi people against such practices. Remember what happened in Los Angeles, the wildfire. This can engulf the whole community. The suspect is with us and he will appear in court”, Nnadi said.

The suspect, Oge Dandy said he didn’t know that the gas plant was sited where people are living as he gave someone money to establish the gas plant.

Oge admitted that he did get approval for the gas plant before it was sited.