July 10, (THEWILL) — The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ebonyi State Command, has vowed to intensify its clampdown on illegal mining operations and fake fertilizer dealers, describing their activities as grave threats to food security, public safety, and environmental sustainability.
The State Commandant, Francis Chika Nnadi, made this known during an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday at the NSCDC headquarters in Abakaliki.
Nnadi, who assumed duty in November 2024 under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, said his mission in the state is to reform and reposition the Corps for more effective protection of public assets, resolution of civil conflicts, and enforcement of lawful resource management.
“Illegal mining operations, especially those carried out without licenses or regulatory oversight, are dangerous and unacceptable,” Nnadi declared.
He revealed that the Corps has already placed locations like Enyiba in Ikwo Local Government Area under surveillance following complaints of unauthorized underground mining allegedly carried out by a Chinese firm.
“Any illegality discovered will be dealt with decisively within 24 hours,” he warned.
To enforce compliance, the NSCDC is collaborating with the Ebonyi State Ministry of Solid Minerals, Federal Mines Officers, and relevant revenue agencies to ensure that only licensed miners operate in the state, with strict adherence to environmental and safety standards.
On the spread of adulterated fertilizers, the Commandant described fake input sellers as “economic saboteurs worse than armed robbers,” adding that several suspects have already been arrested for producing and distributing substandard fertilizers.
“We are working closely with the State Task Force on Fertilizer Distribution to ensure offenders are tracked, arrested, and prosecuted,” he said.
Nnadi disclosed that the Corps recently uncovered and shut down a syndicate of illegal fertilizer vendors operating across the state, and more arrests are underway.
As part of broader security reforms, the NSCDC under Nnadi’s leadership has launched several new initiatives.
These include the Agro Rangers Squad, a specialized unit tackling herder-farmer clashes; the Mining Marshals, tasked with monitoring mining operations and preventing illegal extractions; and the Safe School Quick Response Unit, a digital, female-led team focused on protecting schools from attacks, kidnappings, and violence.
The Command has also established the Civil Defence Community Network, a grassroots intelligence-sharing platform with over 1,000 active members, and introduced “Operation Know Your Neighbour,” a community safety campaign urging residents to be vigilant and report suspicious persons or activities.
Nnadi also revealed the ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art NSCDC Training School, a staff welfare crèche, and other initiatives aimed at boosting operational efficiency.
He sounded a note of warning to vandals targeting public infrastructure including streetlights, bridges, and railings, saying several suspects are already in custody and facing prosecution for vandalism and cult-related offences.
“Every day is for the thief, but one day is for the owner. Ebonyi must not continue to bleed public resources into the hands of criminals. Our mission is to reduce crime and criminality to the barest minimum,” he said.
Nnadi urged members of the public to report illegal activities to the nearest NSCDC office or the Civil Defence Community platform, assuring that all reports would be handled swiftly and confidentially.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
