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Suspects caught with locally fabricated firearms, charms at mining site
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Cross River State Command, has arrested two suspected armed illegal miners for allegedly terrorising and chasing licensed miners out of a mining site in Yakurr Local Government Area.
The State Commandant, CC Okarazu Chima, who disclosed this on Wednesday, said the suspects were arrested on August 19, 2026, following credible intelligence from members of the public.
He identified the suspects as Mr Stephen Ibiang Francis, 34, and Mr Gideon Emmanuel Okoi, 24, both natives of Nkpani village in Yakurr LGA.
According to him, operatives of the Command carried out a tactical raid at a mining site in Agoi Ibami, where the suspects were apprehended with two locally fabricated firearms and materials suspected to be charms.
“Subsequent investigations have unraveled the sinister craft of these two individuals. They are not just illegal miners; they operate as armed enforcers,” Okarazu said.
The modus operandi of the suspects involved storming mining sites at Agoi Ibami heavily armed to intimidate and violently chase away licensed, legitimate miners.
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“Once the legal operators flee out of fear for their lives, these armed suspects and their cohorts take over the site to illegally mine and cart away precious solid minerals,” he said.
CC Okarazu described the act as a violent disruption of lawful economic activities and a direct attack on Critical National Assets, warning that the era of intimidating legitimate investors and plundering our commonwealth is over.
He assured that legitimate, licensed miners would be given the necessary security cover to conduct their businesses peacefully and contribute to the economic development of the state.
CC Okarazu said the two suspects had made useful statements and that investigations had been expanded to track down manufacturers of the locally fabricated firearms and other fleeing members of the syndicate.
He said they would be charged to court for illegal possession of firearms, armed intimidation and illegal mining at the conclusion of investigations.
