By Nsan Ndoma-Neji
A group of farmers operating in Etung under the umbrella of Njor and Cocoa Allottees, yesterday charged the military authority in Cross River not to allow themselves to be used to harass and intimidate cocoa allottees at Abonita Cocoa estate in Etung local government area of Cross River.
The group called for thorough investigation on the legality of use of soldiers by one Mr Mbu Liku, (who is also a cocoa farmer) in the estate.
Speaking on the issue with journalists in Calabar yesterday, the group alleged that despite warning by three courts in Etung, Odukpani local government areas of the state and Appeal court in Calabar that Liku should steer clear from the contentious cocoa plots at Abonita government owned cocoa estate, Liku has refused to listen.
in suit No: HM/73/2020, HC/MSC/24/204, and CA/C/117/2023, pending at the Cross River State High Court Odukpani and the Appeal court Calabar, the court had ordered Mbu Liku to desist forthwith from accessing the said cocoa farm, pending determination of the matter in court.
Spokesperson for the aggrieved allottees, Njor stressed that he was shocked that a mere civilian would resort to use of unknown soldiers to intimidate other allottees despite the fact that the matter is in court.
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“I urged the military authority not to allow people use thier personnel to intimidate cocoa allottees at the Abonita cocoa estate.
“When a matter is in Court, we expect that both parties allow the court to decide rather than resort to the use of unknown soldiers to intimidate people.
“Some soldiers were seen in the estate on Saturday when everybody was busy with environmental sanitation.
“Some of my boys who went early to continue with the spraying of black pods chemicals in plot 77 (Block 7B) actually saw three armed soldiers in company of one Mr Mbu Liku, his wife, and one Mr Abolika of course my boys took to their heels for fear of harassment.
“The unknown soldiers were parading the area legitimately allocated to us by state government at Abonita cocoa estate.
“This is not the first time they are doing that to me. some time ago, my workers and I we chased out by this same group of individual.
“Luckily this time around, we sighted them first going round our farm, of course we knew that if we don’t take cover, we might be hurt. So we took cover.
“Mbu usually does that whenever he knows cocoa has gotten to a period when harvesting is near. He uses soldiers to chase my workers and I to enable him harvest the fruits of our labour, reaping the sweat of our labour.
“Nobody is above the law. The military should re-direct their efforts in the protection of the common man instead of allowing themselves to be used against law abiding citizens like me in civil matter.
“I do not think that there is war at Abonita Cocoa estate to warrant military men coming to chase workers away,” Nor stressed.
“That we have trouble with an individual who has a brother in the army does not mean we are lesser individuals. Of course we are all Nigerians.”
In his reaction to the allegations during a telephone interview, Mbu Liku denied involvement in the use of any military personnel to intimidate other allottees, claiming the allegations were based on falsehood in an effort to blackmail him.
Army Public Relations Officer PRO 13 Brigade Akim Barracks Calabar, Cross River State, Capt. Jemila Jimoh, stated that military authority in the state did not draft its personnel to accompany Liku to intimidate and harass cocoa allottees at Abonita Cocoa estate.
“Let the person come to us so that we can identify the soldiers,” the PRO maintained.
