By Magnus Effiong
A Cocoa farmer at Agbokim Waterfalls community and Abonita cocoa state in Etung local government area of Cross River state, Mr Mbu Liku, has appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to help in bringing back one of his workers identified as Mike, said to be missing since last Sunday.
The worker was reported to have been taken away by a group of people purported to be taskforce from the Abonita cocoa estate.
In a chat with our reporter in Calabar, Wednesday, Mr Liku pointed accusing fingers at one of his business rival, Mr. Asu Njor, accusing him of knowing the whereabouts of Mike.
“On Sunday July 28, 2024, I left my village for Calabar, only to be called that, Asu Njor sent some thugs, on the pretense that they were members of a taskforce, to arrest anyone they find in my farm.
“They succeeded in bundling three of my workers away and took them to the police in Ikom. The Police said two workers were brought and are in their custody. I don’t know what Asu Njor has done to the third person who the Police said is not with them.
“I appealed to the Governor to prevail on Asu Njor to release my missing worker, Mike, to me.”
Reacting to the allegations, Mr. Asu Njor, said “We saw two of their boys in our cocoa farm and we arrested them and handed them over to the police for stealing our cocoa. They are living at Okundi, but we caught them right in our farm and handed them over to police any other person he is mentioning we don’t know about that.”
Confirming the incident, the Investigating Police officer (IPO), in the matter, Mr. Akparawu ( surname withheld) and the Commander, Area command Ikom Mr.Akanonu Frank, denied any knowledge of a missing person.