By Obiabin Onukwugha
Ekid people in Eket and Esit Eket local government areas of Akwa Ibom state, have threatened to sue a Chinese Firm, Ruitai Mining Limited for alleged illegal mining activities in their territory.
The Ekid people also asked the firm to vacate the area and pay for damages its illegal mining activities have wrecked on their environment, failure of which they will take legal action.
The communities accused the firm of illegally mining a mineral resource, limonite on their lands located at Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve also known as Akoiyak Ekid without prior approval from the people.
President-General of Ekid Peoples Union (EPU), Samuel Udonsak, in a press conference at Eket, Akwa Ibom State during the weekend, disclosed that findings revealef that the Chinese company carries out the illegal mining at night with the support of some officials of the state government.
Udonsak maintained that the activities of the Chinese Firm contravened Nigeria’s extant laws and constitute an act of disregard for the Ekid people.
Udonsak said: “For some time now, we have noted that a Chinese company Ruital 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.
“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,” he stated.
