Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has called on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to deploy 400 additional officers to Ebonyi State to tackle illegal mining and improve the overall security architecture across communities.
The governor made the appeal on Friday during the visit of the NSCDC Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to the Government House in Abakaliki. He described the current number of NSCDC operatives in Ebonyi as “grossly inadequate” compared to what is available in other states.
Governor Nwifuru expressed concern over the increasing cases of illegal mining in the state, revealing that precious minerals such as gold are being extracted under the disguise of lead and zinc mining without proper regulatory supervision.
“The army is doing NSCDC’s job because there are not enough officers on ground,” Nwifuru lamented.
The governor further submitted a list of 194 qualified youths from Ebonyi State for possible recruitment into the Corps, emphasizing that their inclusion would reduce unemployment, enhance local security presence, and ensure proper monitoring of mining activities.
He also noted that while mining licenses and operations fall under federal jurisdiction, the state continues to face enforcement limitations due to manpower shortages.
“We don’t issue mining licenses; the federal government does. But without adequate security manpower, how can we protect our resources?” he queried.
Governor Nwifuru assured the Commandant-General of the state government’s readiness to provide logistics and operational support, including 10 Hilux vehicles, once the requested personnel are deployed.
Prof. Audi, in response, commended the governor’s proactive stance on security and reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to protecting critical infrastructure, securing mining zones, and regulating private security operations nationwide.
He revealed that the NSCDC has shut down more than 600 illegal mining sites across Nigeria and arrested over 500 suspects, including foreign nationals. Audi also paid tribute to eight officers recently killed during a rescue mission in Edo State, underscoring the dangers faced by NSCDC personnel in the line of duty.
The Commandant-General’s visit to Ebonyi was part of his nationwide operational tour to assess state-level challenges and identify infrastructure gaps.
During the visit, Governor Nwifuru also inaugurated Saint Francis Chapel, a new worship centre built by the Ebonyi State NSCDC Command to promote moral discipline and spiritual growth among officers.
State Commandant Mr. Francis Nnadi reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to working closely with the Ebonyi State Government in addressing ongoing and emerging security challenges, especially in rural and mining communities.
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