Irate Youths Seal Off Illegal Chinese Wood Processing Factory In Ikom
By Missang AKPET
The case of the illegal Chinese invasion in Okuni community in Ikom local government have taken another twist as indegenes of the community woke up this morning to a protest from the youths demanding for the much deliberated documents from the Chinese Nationals.
Recall that THE BEAGLE NEWS had earlier reported that the indegenes of Effi community in Okuni village have been demanding from the Chinese Nationals who are into wood processing in the community the necessary documents and certifications authorising them to carry out legitimate business in the community, details of agreement with the community as well as immigration papers and identity of the Chinese.
Baring all efforts to get the necessary information proving abortive, the youths of Effi community led a protest to the factory premises demanding to see the management of the company.
Learning of the absence of the management staff, the youths who trooped out in their numbers chased all staff from the company and barricaded the gate asking the company to stop work until the management attend to them.
The youths president of Okuni village Comrade Obaji Ndoma Ori while speaking with our correspondent said the issue leaves so many questions unanswered and the parties involved have decided not to attend to our yearnings.
"We have been demanding for a full understanding of the agreement the community entered with this Chinese company for so long and nobody is giving us answers. How can a company be operating in our community and yet we don't know their name nor their management neither do we know the terms of agreement.
"All they things they promised to do like installation of street lights, good pay and safe working environment for their workers, construction of some roads within the community and scholarships for some of the indigenous students non have come to fusion.
"We have asked the factory to stop operation untill the company management answers our questions" Obaji said.
A former youth president of Effi community Mr. Alobi Ofuka who was also at the scene of the protest lamented that the issue of the Chinese Nationals is no longer an issue that should be taken for granted.
He explained that the indegenes of Okuni who are working in the company are maltreated with the safety measures nor welfare in place for them.
"They employ underage children which in law it is termed 'Child Labour', maltreat our sons and daughters who work for them and beat them up at will. How can you employ staff to work in your factory without safety equipments? No safety boots, no helmet nor gloves.
"They flog our men and women forcing them to work as if there are slaves, in their own village? We won't accept that any longer and if they must continue operation then we must return back to the drawing board, sight the content of their agreement with the community and resolve all pending issues" Alobi lamented.
"Mr. Konye David an indigene of the community who also spoke with THE BEAGLE NEWS noted that the world is changing and people of Effi community are too enlightened to allow such a miseaminor happen in it's community.
"From findings, this people don't have a company name, registration papers with the state authorising them to carry out wood processing in our community nor CAC registration, in fact how can you obtain CAC registration when you don't even have a company name? Ok show us the agreement you had with our community chiefs they refused, we can't continue living with faceless foreign Nationals who are indiscriminately depleting our natural resources.
"They promised like we heard that they were going to employ some of our youths, they ones they've employed are seriously being maltreated without welfare. Not long ago, one of our sons Akim Akim Alobi lost 2 of his fingers while working at the factory, the other one Chima Raphael had hot water burns on his back at the favtory and the management showed no concern about them or their welfare leaving them to fend for theirself, is that fair? Is that how a company shoul live with it's landlords? Enough is enough.
Chima Raphael
Akim Akim Alobi
Efforts to reach any of the management staff of the company failed as they were said to have travelled out of town but we met the Cheif Security Officer (CSO) of the company Mr. Raymond Okongor who is also an indegene if the Okuni community.
He maintained the fact that what the youths are demanding for is in place as they deserve to have first hand knowledge of such foreign Nationals doing business in their community.
"What they are asking for is their right, they say they want to see the agreement the Chinese had with the community. Although there is an agreement, it is not the place of the company to tender such an agreement to the demanding youths rather the community chiefs and lawyer are the ones to explain to them and show them the agreement they demand for.
"Presently the manager of the company is not in town, he left for Calabar this morning so I have told them we will schedule a meeting immediately he returns back to town" the CSO added.
The Chinese have been in Okuni community since November 2023 buying wood and processing them into wood dust to form plywood for export.
Since their arrival the issue of certification has been on the front burner with all fingers pointing at the community lawyer Barr. Ichire Okim who allegedly holds the community power of attorney and the community chiefs as well as the Chinese to unravel the Mistry surrounding the agreement entered between the community and the company as well as the true identity of the Chinese.
As at the time of filing in this report, they Chinese had sent in police officers to cut the palm fronds used in tying the gate ordering their staff to resume work but the youths had returned back to chase all workers away and re-baricaded the gate
