A Chinese mining company, Ruitai Mining Company, situated in Esuk Ikim Akeme community, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has been shut down by the state government over illegal mining of Titanium Ore.
This was made known by the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Uno Etim Uno, who explained that he, alongside the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security, Brig. Gen. Koko Essien (rtd), went on inspection of Ruitai Mining facility and discovered that it was involved in illegal mining.
Additionally, the commissioner noted that the product, black clay-like mineral was discovered in sack bags of 50kg.
He, however, revealed that the Managing Director and Director of the company, Zeng Zhonghuan and Huang Ying, were absent at the site, while the available staff members could not provide any information or documents on their right to operate in the area
He explained that upon the discovery, the government invited the police and army to take over the site pending when the company was cleared to operate, adding that Ruitai was given until Friday this week to present documents qualifying them to mine the mineral.
In another news, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Gombe State command has paraded 46 suspects arrested at local nightclubs, popularly known as Gidan Gala.
The arrested suspects are made up of 32 females and 14 males.
The State Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Mu’azu Sa’ad, while parading the suspects, explained that the arrest was made in compliance with Governor Muhammadu Yahaya’s directives that all local nightclubs be shut.
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He further explained, “The suspects were found wanting for perpetrating immoral and criminal acts in these Gidan Gala.”
He said that the command has been able to reach out to some of the parents of the suspects, adding that they would be charging them to court.
According to him, the suspects were apprehended around 9pm following the directive that was issued around 4pm on Monday.
The suspects, according to the state Command PPRO, were arrested at Sabon Gida BCGA, Jamiyar Gadan Gala at New Mile 6, while others were arrested at Gidan Wasa/Gidan Drama, New Mile 3, and Liji, along Kalshingi Road.