Akwa Ibom Government Launches Task Force Against Illegal Mining

The Akwa Ibom State Government, under the leadership of the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Nsikak Ekong, has initiated a task force aimed at curbing illegal mining activities across the state. Ekong reported that numerous illegal mining sites have already been shut down, noting that many of these operations occur at night, allowing miners to evade detection.

The task force's efforts are part of the ARISE agenda set by the Governor. Additionally, CP Baba Mohammed Azare of the Akwa Ibom State Command has instructed police units to bolster surveillance and intelligence efforts regarding suspected illegal mining locations.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, emphasized the need to identify unauthorized mining sites and investigate individuals involved in such activities. The police aim to ensure that legitimate businesses with valid licenses are not targeted while taking action against those operating without authorization.