NSCDC shuts down factories over alleged theft of multi-billion naira infrastructure

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has sealed the factories of Inner Galaxy Steel Company and Jiuxing Industry Limited across the country over alleged theft of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.

The Corps said it secured a valid court judgment before sealing the factories following the discovery of stolen national assets worth billions of naira allegedly traced to the companies.

According to the NSCDC, investigations into activities of syndicates involved in vandalism and theft of critical infrastructure found the companies and some of their accomplices culpable.

It added that the operation against them marks a major escalation in the federal crackdown on economic sabotage, infrastructure theft, and the alleged financing of terrorism.

The Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Babawale Afolabi, in a statement issued in Abuja said suspects linked to the syndicate are facing severe criminal allegations, including conspiracy to commit felony and theft, intentional endangering of safety of persons traveling by railway among others.

“Armed with valid search warrants and court orders, operatives from the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’S SIS) stormed the Birnin Yero facility in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State.

“All recovered railway sleepers and tracks are being officially secured and transferred to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to be preserved as vital exhibits for prosecution”, Babawale said.

He said the Corps obtained confessions from arrested staff, which revealed a coordinated logistics network where vandalized national infrastructures were routinely moved to the company’s headquarters in Aba and other branches for melting.

“The stolen steel was subsequently recycled into commercial products such as nails and roofing sheets,” he said.

He said the Corps consequently ensured the closure of the Headquarters of Inner Galaxy Steel Company / Jiuxing Integrity Industrial Ltd (Ahala Ukwa Village, Umuahala Community, Obuzor Ukwu, Ukwa West LGA, Abia State), Northern Hub: Inner Galaxy Steel Company (Tasha Rawayyah, Gusau, Zamfara State), and all other branches and subsidiaries nationwide.

Babawale said all Chinese nationals involved in the management of the complex have been formally invited by the NSCDC for further questioning.

The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Audi, praised operatives involved in the crackdown for an excellent job, noting that it heart warming too see his directive to the Commandant in charge of the CG’S SIS, Appollos Dandaura, carried out excellently.

He commended them for ensuring maintenance of absolute diligence and professionalism throughout the high-impact operation.

“Every single suspect found culpable in this bleeding of our nation’s commonwealth will face the full wrath of the law. The NSCDC remains fiercely committed to reducing infrastructure vandalism to the absolute minimum.” The CG said.

The NSCDC expresses its profound gratitude to the judiciary for the swiftly granting of the legal instruments, preventing further interference with crucial evidence.

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