In 2023, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Cross River Command detained 63 individuals on suspicion of engaging in illicit mining, stealing armored cables, damaging public property, and stealing crude oil.However, Mr. Charles Brown, the state's NSCDC Commandant, stated in a Thursday interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar that the majority of those detained had been given administrative bail.
According to Brown, four of the six people who had been detained were found guilty after they were brought before a judge.
He said, "Of the twelve apprehended suspects, investigation is still ongoing on eight of them; the remaining suspects were either released from detention or given administrative bail.
Brown claims that the command recovered 17.1mm armored cable that had been vandalized by some of the suspects and that two articulated vehicles carrying crude oil and twenty gasoline containers were confiscated.
He sought the public's support and declared that the command will remain steadfast in carrying out its task.
"We are sending out a warning to individuals who commit crimes such as vandalism and other offenses that Cross River is no longer a sanctuary for their evil deeds; they have to stop immediately," Brown continued.