NSCDC arrests 108 suspects in Edo

THE Edo Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said on Monday that it arrested about 108 suspects for various crimes between January and December 2018.

The State Commandant of the Corps, Mr Makinde Ayinla, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

Ayinla said that the suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from vandalism, armed robbery, and kidnapping to human trafficking, prostitution and trafficking in illicit drugs.

He further disclosed that the command within the period under review destroyed 40 illegal refineries in the three senatorial districts of the state.

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The state commandant said about 700,000 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum product was seized and destroyed.

He told NAN that the command’s Anti-Fraud Unit recovered about N4.8 million from fraudsters within the period.

Ayinla said the amount was recovered from job scammers, loan defaulters and people who breached trust and contract.

He said that the command also ensured that only registered private guard companies operated in the state.

He added that the command in fulfilment of its core mandate protected national critical assets in Edo and effectively managed crises and disasters especially herdsmen/farmers conflicts.

Ayinla further told NAN that the command secured 12 convictions within the period while 17 cases were still pending in courts.

He said several seminars were held by the command to sensitise the general public on the menace of human trafficking.