In a developing controversy, a coalition of cocoa farmers in Etung, operating under the Njor and Cocoa Allottees group, has accused the military in Cross River State of being used to intimidate cocoa allottees at the Abonita Cocoa Estate. They have called for an investigation into the alleged use of soldiers by a fellow cocoa farmer, Mr. Mbu Liku.
The group insists on a thorough investigation into the legality of Liku’s alleged use of military personnel to harass other allottees. Speaking to journalists in Calabar, the group’s spokesperson expressed dismay that Liku has continued his activities despite multiple court orders.
“Three different courts, including the Cross River State High Court and the Appeal Court in Calabar, have warned Mr. Liku to stay away from the disputed cocoa plots,” the spokesperson said. “However, he continues to defy these orders.”
The group highlighted several court cases, including suit No: HM/73/2020, HC/MSC/24/204, and CA/C/117/2023, where the courts have ordered Liku to desist from accessing the cocoa farm until a final decision is made. Yet, Liku allegedly persists in his actions, accompanied by soldiers.
Njor, the spokesperson for the aggrieved allottees, voiced his shock at what he described as a civilian resorting to the use of military force in a civil dispute. “I urge the military authorities not to allow their personnel to be used to intimidate us at Abonita Cocoa Estate,” he said.
He recounted an incident where soldiers were seen on the estate during a community environmental sanitation day. “My workers saw three armed soldiers with Mr. Liku, his wife, and another individual, and they had to flee to avoid harassment.”
“This isn’t the first time we’ve faced such intimidation,” Njor continued. “In the past, we’ve been chased off our legitimately allocated land by this same group. This time, we managed to take cover before they could harm us.”
Njor accused Liku of using soldiers to intimidate workers whenever the cocoa harvest season neared. “He wants to reap the fruits of our labor by driving us away with military force,” he alleged. “No one is above the law. The military should protect the common man, not be used against law-abiding citizens.”
Liku, however, denied these allegations in a telephone interview, claiming they were attempts to blackmail him. “I have not used any military personnel to intimidate anyone,” he said.
Captain Jemila Jimoh, the Army Public Relations Officer for 13 Brigade, Akim Barracks in Calabar, also responded to the allegations. “The military did not deploy any personnel to accompany Mr. Liku to intimidate cocoa allottees. We invite the accusers to come forward so we can identify these supposed soldiers,” she stated.
As this dispute unfolds, the call for a transparent investigation into these serious allegations remains at the forefront, highlighting the tension and complexity of land disputes in the region.
