Traditional rulers in Bendeghe Ekiem, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, have directed youths occupying disputed plots within the government-owned Cocoa Estate to immediately comply with an existing court order and vacate the affected farmlands. The monarchs warned that continued defiance could expose the community to legal consequences.
Speaking on behalf of the Mbume Blocks of Clans Crisis Management Committee, Chief Moses Ndep said the disputed cocoa plots were legally allocated to contractors under a consent judgment reached after cocoa-producing communities sued the administration of former Governor Ben Ayade over years of unpaid royalties. According to him, the court-backed settlement led to the lease of over 1,000 hectares of cocoa farms to allottees who paid the required fees into Cross River State Government accounts.
The traditional ruler explained that tensions resurfaced when the current administration's cocoa allocation committee reportedly reassigned some of the same plots to new beneficiaries, creating overlapping ownership claims and triggering fresh disputes within the estate. Community leaders say the situation has already generated unrest and uncertainty among farmers and residents.
Chief Ndep urged the youths to respect the law and allow the recognized allottees to take possession of the farms, stressing that the community must not be seen as opposing a valid court judgment. He warned that anyone who refuses to comply risks facing legal action.
The cocoa estate dispute comes amid longstanding controversies surrounding the management, allocation and proposed privatization of cocoa plantations in Etung communities, where cocoa farming remains a major source of livelihood for thousands of residents. Previous protests by women, youths and farmers had highlighted fears that policy decisions affecting the estates could threaten local economic survival.
Post A Comment: