The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Cross River State Command, has arrested two men accused of operating as armed enforcers for an illegal mining syndicate allegedly terrorising licensed miners in Yakurr Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commandant, CC Okarazu Chima, disclosed the arrests on Wednesday while parading the suspects during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Calabar.
According to the Commandant, NSCDC operatives stormed a mining site at Agoi Ibami, Yakurr, on August 19, 2026, following credible intelligence supplied by members of the public.
The suspects, identified as Stephen Ibiang Francis, 34, and Gideon Emmanuel Okoi, 24, both from Nkpani village in Yakurr, were arrested during the operation.
Two locally fabricated firearms and materials suspected to be charms were allegedly recovered from them.
Okarazu said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were allegedly more than illegal miners, describing them as armed enforcers who intimidated legitimate mining operators and forced them away from the site.
According to the NSCDC, the suspects and their alleged accomplices would reportedly invade mining locations armed with locally fabricated weapons, threaten licensed miners and take control of the sites after the legitimate operators fled.
The syndicate would then allegedly mine and cart away valuable solid minerals from the affected locations.
The Commandant described the arrests as a major breakthrough in the Corps’ continuing operations against economic sabotage and illegal exploitation of Cross River State’s mineral resources.
He warned illegal miners and armed groups operating within the state that the NSCDC would intensify enforcement against activities threatening legitimate investments and critical national assets.
Okarazu stressed that solid mineral resources constitute critical national assets and assured licensed miners that the Corps would provide necessary security support to enable them to operate without intimidation.
The NSCDC said the two suspects remain in custody and have provided information to investigators, while efforts are ongoing to identify the alleged manufacturers of the recovered firearms and track other members of the suspected syndicate.
Upon conclusion of investigations, the suspects are expected to be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction over allegations bordering on illegal possession of firearms, armed intimidation and illegal mining.
The Commandant also commended members of the public whose information led to the arrests and urged residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies.
The allegations against the suspects remain subject to proof before a court of competent jurisdiction.
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