By KELECHI OGUNLEYE

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has sealed all branches of Inner Galaxy Steel Company and Jiuxing Integrity Industrial Ltd for alleged involvement in financing terrorism in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement by the NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Babatunde Afolabi, on Monday in Abuja.

Afolabi said that the corps secured a court order to seal the companies for allegations ranging from: conspiracy to commit felony, damage and theft of railway infrastructure and concealment of stolen property.

He said that during a raid by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’S SIS) of one of the factories, several illegally obtained and vandalised government assets and infrastructure were recovered.

“Armed with valid search warrants and court orders the operatives stormed the Birnin Yero facility in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State.

“Confession from arrested staff revealed a coordinated logistics network where vandalised national infrastructure was 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,” Afolabi said.

The spokesperson said that the management of the companies who are Chinese nationals, had been formally summoned by the NSCDC but are yet to comply.

He further said that the NSCDC Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, had directed that every suspect found culpable or accomplice to the allegations, be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Audi however issued a strict directive to the CG’S SIS Commandant, Appollos Dandaura, to ensure that operatives handling the case maintain absolute diligence and professionalism throughout the investigation and subsequent operation.

The NSCDC boss applauded the judiciary for swiftly granting the corps all legal rights needed to adequately carry out its mandate.

He called on members of the public to not relent in providing the NSCDC and other security agencies with credible and timely information that will curb vandalism and theft of Critical National Asset and Infrastructure across the country. (NAN)

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