The Cross River State Government has declared war against illegal operators and impostors infiltrating its cocoa estates in Etung Local Government Area, ordering legitimate farmers to reclaim their allotted plots and carry on with their activities without fear.
The declaration came through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, who hosted a high-powered delegation of farmers led by Hon. Atu Ebuta, Chairman of the Bendeghe Ekiem unit of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria. The farmers, enraged by constant harassment and disruption of their businesses, stormed Calabar to demand decisive action.
At the center of the chaos is Oscar Ofuka, a former aide to ex-Governor Ben Ayade, now described by government authorities as a rampaging impostor and serial saboteur of state-owned assets.
“Oscar Ofuka is not a government agent. He is not a consultant. He is an impostor and an economic criminal masquerading in our cocoa estates,” Prof. Enoh declared. “We will pursue his eviction through all legal channels until he is completely flushed out. Let it be known—this government will not spare saboteurs.”
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The SSG stressed that while the matter remains in court, government will not fold its arms and watch its revenue streams strangled by those who have no regard for the rule of law.
In solidarity with the farmers, Hon. Kingsley Isong, Member Representing Etung State Constituency in the House of Assembly, expressed outrage over Ofuka’s brazen actions, describing them as a betrayal of trust and an insult to his Etung roots.
“He’s embarrassing his people and mocking the system. That must stop,” Hon. Isong fumed. “We will revisit the atrocities he’s committed, and he will be held to account.”
Also present was Barr. Gilbert Agbor, Special Adviser to the Governor on Asset Management and Recovery, who assured the farmers that the State Government is in firm control and would not allow state assets to remain in the hands of impostors.
“Ofuka and his kind must understand: the old order is gone. This administration is here to clean house, and we will recover every stolen inch,” Barr. Agbor emphasized.
Hon. Atu Ebuta and his delegation decried Ofuka’s repeated attempts to shortchange the state by personally exploiting cocoa plots without authorization, and expressed gratitude to Governor Otu for standing up for the real farmers.
“We’ve suffered too long under this tyranny. But now, with government backing us, we will take back what is ours,” Ebuta stated.
Efforts to reach Oscar Ofuka for his side of the story were unsuccessful. Multiple calls and messages were ignored as of press time.
