Rival cocoa farmers and thugs have clashed, leaving some injured and others hospitalised around the government Cocoa estate in Etung local government area of Cross River.
The Nation reports some of the farmers alleged a compromise in the armed security patrol team in the area, blaming the situation on the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the State Government, Maj.Gen Rtd. Okoi Obono, who has offered explanations on the crisis.
One of the victims, a small holder Cocoa farmer at Abonita Cocoa farm, Mr. Mark Prince, called on the State Director Department of State Services (DSS), Mrs. Roseline Izuagbe, to Investigate the attack on his six workers by thugs and inflicted various degree of injuries on his workers in the area since October 2, 2024.
Prince stated the injured workers are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Ikom, Cross River State. The cause of the clash was yet unknown as of the time of filing this report.
He blamed the Special Adviser to the State Government on Security Matters, Rtd. Major General Okoi Obono, of compromising the security situation at the l32 hectares Abonita cocoa estate which shares a boundary with government Cocoa estate in the area, calling for an investigation into the matter.
One of the victims Mr. Kelly Abang said: “I went to do work at Mr Mark Prince’s cocoa farm yesterday and one man, identified as Chilo met us in the bush and asked us about the owner of the farm and we told him we are laborers working for Mark Prince.
“He demanded that I should call our Boss, Mr. Mark Prince, because he wants to speak with him. And I responded to his demand and I put a call across to Mark Prince and they spoke with each other. And thereafter, Mr. Chilo ( ASU Njor) asked us to continue with our work and he left in the company of the boys. Only for him to return back about 30 minutes later in the company of some armed young men who tortured us squarely and inflicted numerous injuries on us with machetes.”
But the accused, Mr. Asu Njor (Chilo), denied any involvement in the attack.
Reacting, Obono denied the alleged compromise of the security details at the estate, stressing that he had asked the police to commence an immediate investigation into the crisis.
Source: The Nation
