Ekid people in Eket and Esit Eket local government areas of Akwa Ibom state have ordered a Chinese firm, Ruitai Mining Ltd, to vacate their lands for engaging in illegal mining.

Under the aegis of Ekid Peoples Union (EPU), they accused the firm of illegally mining a mineral resource, limonite on their lands located at Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve also known as Akoiyak Ekid.

President-General of EPU, Samuel Udonsak in a press conference in Eket yesterday disclosed that findings reveal that the Chinese company carries out illegal mining in night and with the support of some officials of the state government.

Udonsak maintained that it was against Nigeria’s extant laws and an act of disregard to Ekid for the firm to come to their territory and engage in mining without their knowledge and authorization.

“For some time now, we have noted that a Chinese company RUITAI MINING LIMITED has been illegally mining ILMENITE on our land; located within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve (Akoiyak Ekid), property of the Ekid people without the necessary authorization or consent of the community in breach of our extant laws.

“This illegal mining usually carried out in the night and its product transported out of the state in trucks clandestinely is alleged to be actively encouraged by certain elements in government.

“As of today, neither the Chinese Company nor their agents in government, has informed the community of this ongoing illegal activity. This action is in complete breach of extant laws,” Udonsak said.

The Ekid people asked the firm to pay for damages its illegal mining activities have wreaked on their environment failure which they will take legal action.

Udonsak said: “Having painstakingly considered the foregoing and other concomitant issues, we strictly demand that, RUITAI MINING LIMITED, the Chinese company illegally engaged in mining on our land should discontinue their trespass forthwith, abate the nuisance and pay for damages occasioned by their trespass.

“Akwa Ibom State Government should investigate the illegal activities of RUITAI MINING LIMITED and its collaborators in government and call them to order and find ways of ameliorating the already despicable situation.

“All parties involved in this clandestine land grab incident should be rightly informed of our incontestable title to the said land and should be so guided,” he said. (The Nation)

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