New Telegraph

C’River: Otu’s Security Chief Denies Complacency In  Cocoa Farmers’ Attack

 

The Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State, Maj. Gen. Okoi Obono has reacted to the alleged attack on some farmers in the Etung Local Government Area of the state, explaining that he has commenced an investigation into the alleged attack.

Speaking on Monday to Journalists in Calabar, Obono said allegations against complacency by his office were untenable and can’t be proved.

He maintained that his attention was just drawn to the current situation in Etung but that he needed more information on the matter.

However, a small Cocoa farmer holder operating at Abonita Cocoa farm, in the Etung local government area of the state, Mr Mark Prince, had called on the State Director, the Department of State Services (DSS), Mrs Roseline Izuagbe, to Investigate the alleged attack of his six workers by a rival farmer who he alleged that unknown persons inflicted various degree of injuries on his workers at the contentious 32 hectares Abonita cocoa estate belonging to the state government on Wednesday last week.

He had also accused the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Rtd. Major General Okoi Obono, of compromising the security situation at 32 hectares Abonita cocoa estate, according to the farmer “I share a boundary with government Cocoa estate in the area,”

According to him: “I am calling on the director, State Security Services ( DSS), because there is no way you can sit in the comfort of your home and put up a document, stopping the army that used to patrol at the Abonita axis, protecting lives and property of citizens from patrolling any longer because you want your personal interest to be protected.

“As I speak, if you go into the farms now, you will see Njor’s thugs parading with arms in the cocoa farm. If this is not checked, I foresee an outbreak of lawlessness at the Abonita axis between Agborkim and Ajassor neighbouring communities in the near future.

“Don’t you know that persistent attack can cause war between the two sisters communities of Ajassor and Agborki, Because, there is no way you machete people like this and we mobilized for revenge that it won’t result in a communal war?

“I am calling on the state governor, Bassey Otu, to ask his State Security Adviser, Rtd Major General Okoi Obono to explain to him, why he halted the Nigerian army from patrolling at Abonita cocoa estate known for criminal activities.

“We have instances where a criminal commits a crime and we incident the matter at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Effraya, Etung local government of the state, the matter will quickly be transferred to Zone 6 police Command Calabar, or Abuja. Before you know it, victims suddenly turn to suspects”. He maintained.”

But the state security Adviser denied the allegations and promised that the whole situation with regard to the entire cocoa situation in Etung local government area would soon be unveiled and would be made open to the public.”

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