By Oyibo Salihu
Lokoja
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kogi state Command, has revealed that it handled 254 cases in 2016, out of which 15 were fully prosecuted and 10 offenders jailed.
Addressing newsmen in Lokoja during a review of 2016 operations of the command, the state commandant, Mr. Evaristus Obiyo, who disclosed this, said 40 cases were on going in court, while 48 were still under investigations as 49 cases were treated and disposed off.
Obiyo added that 102 cases of community misunderstanding, marital related cases were successfully mediated and resolved.
He said: “The offences range from pipeline vandalism, mischief, illegal possession of fire arms, vandalism of electrical installation and other critical breach of trust, threat to life and property, house breaking, negligence in relation to animals and other civil related cases.”
He said within the year under review, the command was able to successfully implemented fuel price regime through monitoring of fuel tankers to prevent fuel diversion.
“We destroyed and burnt down illegal refineries at Ebiya in Ajaokuta local government area; we arrested and prosecuted suspected vandals of armoured cables at Kabba, and illegal vandals of transformer in Idah local government.”
Obiyo, who also pointed out that suspected vandals of crude oil at Budan/ Eggan/Labata axis of river Niger were arrested with speedboat, said two boat engines, three pieces of ring hose and 75 liters of crude oil were recovered.
He further disclosed that the command had settled age long community crises between Ikah-Iregu and some communities in Ibaji local government area as well as herdsmen and farmers crises, adding that “following the federal government’s diversification drive into solid mineral development the Corps was saddled with the mandate of overseeing all solid minerals development, all solid mineral sites and movement of solid minerals products.”
While calling on parents to warn their wards against any act of criminalities, Obiyo said the command under his watch will not relent in its effort to arrest and prosecute youths who indulge in act of sabotage.
