Etung Cocoa Farmers Cry Out to Gov’t Over Oscar Ofuka’s Alleged Reign of Terror
By Ebi COLLINS
Fear, blood, and lawlessness now cloud the once-thriving cocoa estates of Etung Local Government Area, as Oscar Ofuka, a former aide to ex-Governor Ben Ayade, continues to unleash a vicious reign of terror on legitimate farmers through thugs and armed uniformed officers.
Under the banner of Concerned Cocoa Farmers, Martins Isaac, Pastor Ubi Ofem, and Obi Amba are making a passionate appeal, on behalf of farmers in the estates, to the Cross River State Government to immediately rein in Ofuka, whose continued harassment, torture, and illegal arrest of farmers has pushed the cocoa estate to the brink of chaos.
“This man uses thugs and even armed officers in uniform to brutalize us,” said Pastor Ubi Ofem. “He’s acting with impunity—arresting, assaulting, and threatening farmers who have legally acquired plots from the government. He must be stopped in his tracks before things get completely out of hand.”
The latest outrage occurred just recently when Ofuka’s thugs attacked innocent farmers in their farms, leaving one farmer with deep machete wounds. It took the swift intervention of community leaders to prevent escalation. The hoodlums were apprehended and transferred to Calabar by police for further investigation.
According to Martins Isaac, Ofuka has turned the government-owned cocoa estates into a battlefield. “We are losing our farms, our yields, and our peace of mind. Worse still, Ofuka’s actions have, in some cases, led to the deaths of vibrant young people in our community. How long will the government watch and do nothing?”
Obi Amba warns that if government continues to look the other way, the situation could spiral out of control. “If the authorities don’t act, we may have no choice but to defend ourselves. Nobody should be forced to live under this kind of tyranny while trying to make an honest living.”
The farmers, who say they have fulfilled all financial obligations to the government for their allocated cocoa plots, are demanding that Governor Bassey Otu, the Ministry of Agriculture, and security agencies investigate and prosecute Oscar Ofuka and all collaborators involved in the oppression of cocoa farmers.
“This is no longer just about cocoa—it’s about justice, dignity, and the right to farm in peace,” the Concerned Cocoa Farmers declared. “If government fails to act, it will be complicit in the destruction of lives and livelihoods in Etung and its surrounding areas.”
