Following the crackdown on some suspected fertilizer syndicates selling adulterated products and illegal mining operators in Ebonyi, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has launched Operation Know Your Neighbour aimed at addressing illegal operations, adding that the initiative is already yielding results.
This was made known to journalists at the NSCDC Command Headquarters in Abakaliki during an interactive session with the Commandant of the Corps, Francis Chika Nnadi, on Wednesday. He noted that the Command is committed to curbing acts of economic sabotage and restoring discipline across critical sectors in the state.
He stated that through Operation Know Your Neighbour, the Command was able to arrest some suspects dealing in adulterated fertilizers and other illegal activities, describing their operations as major threats to public safety, food security, and environmental sustainability.
He added that the Command now encourages community vigilance, noting that people must begin to profile those they live with because many criminals operate freely due to lack of scrutiny.
Nnadi further stated that, as part of the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, his mandate is to reform and reposition NSCDC operations in Ebonyi—particularly in safeguarding public assets, resolving civil conflicts, and enforcing lawful resource management.
He assured that the Corps is working with the State Ministry of Solid Minerals, Federal Mines Officers, and relevant revenue authorities to ensure that only authorized miners operate in the state while maintaining environmental standards.
He revealed that the NSCDC recently uncovered and shut down a network of illegal fertilizer vendors in Ebonyi and promised that more arrests would follow. He added that they are working closely with the State Task Force on Fertilizer Distribution to ensure offenders are arrested and prosecuted.
As part of a broader security initiative, Commandant Nnadi outlined other key interventions by the Corps, including the formation of the Agro Rangers Squad to mitigate herder-farmer conflicts, and the Mining Marshals, tasked with overseeing lawful mining operations and preventing illegal extraction.
Other projects include the building of a Training Garden to equip personnel physically, a Chapel for spiritual purposes, and the establishment of the *Safe School Quick Response Unit*, which is led by a female-led digital team focused on protecting schools from attacks, kidnappings, and violence.
Additional initiatives include the construction of a state-of-the-art NSCDC Training School, a crèche for staff welfare, and the Civil Defence Community—a grassroots intelligence-sharing network with over 1,000 active members.
He continued, “Illegal mining operations, especially those done without proper licenses or safety oversight, are dangerous and unacceptable. We are already monitoring locations such as Enyiba in Ikwo LGA, where concerns were raised about underground mining by a Chinese company.”
“Through Operation Know Your Neighbour, we encourage community vigilance. People must begin to profile those they live with because many criminals operate freely due to lack of scrutiny,” Nnadi said.
He further warned vandals who damage public infrastructure—such as streetlights, bridges, and railings—that the law will catch up with them.
According to him, several suspects involved in vandalism and cult-related crimes have already been remanded and are facing prosecution.
“Every day is for the thief, but one day is for the owner. Ebonyi cannot continue to lose public resources to criminal elements. We are here to reduce crime and criminality to the barest minimum,” he declared.
Nnadi called on Ebonyi residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest NSCDC office or the Civil Defence Community network, assuring the public that all reports would be acted upon swiftly and confidentially.
