Youths in Okuni, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, have sealed off a Chinese wood processing factory in what they termed as an “illegal factory”.
The angry youths sealed off the factory on Monday morning while demanding the much-deliberated documents from the Chinese nationals.
According to The Beagle News, the youths, who are indigenes of Effi community in Okuni, where the said illegal factory is located, have been demanding necessary documents and certifications authorising the Chinese nationals who are into wood processing to carry out legitimate business in the community. They also demanded the details of the agreement with the community as well as immigration papers and the identity of the Chinese.
After efforts to obtain the necessary information and documents failed, the angry youths of Effi community led a protest at 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 attended to them.
After sealing off the factory following the absence of the management staff, Comrade Obaji Ndoma Ori, the youths president of Okuni, said the issue leaves so many unanswered questions, adding that the parties involved have decided not to attend to their yearnings.
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According to him, “We have been demanding 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 or their management, nor do we know the terms of the agreement?
“All the 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, none have come to fruition.
“We have asked the factory to stop operation until the management of the company answers our questions.”
Present also at the scene of the protest, Mr Alobi Ofuka, former youth president of Effi community, lamented that the issue of the Chinese nationals is no longer an issue that should be taken for granted.
He explained that the indigenes of Okuni who are working in the company are maltreated with no safety measures or welfare in place for them.
He said, “They (Chinese nationals) 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 equipment? No safety boots, no helmet, or gloves.
“They flog our men and women, forcing them to work as if they are slaves; in their own village? We won’t accept that any longer, and if they must continue operation, then we must return to the drawing board, see the content of their agreement with the community and resolve all pending issues.”
Another indigene of the community, who gave his name as Konye David, said the people of Effi community are too enlightened to allow such a misdemeanour to happen in their community.
Adding that, “From our findings, these 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? Okay, 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; the ones they’ve employed are seriously being maltreated without welfare. Not long ago, one of our sons, Akim Akim Alobi, lost two of his fingers while working at the factory, the other one Chima Raphael had hot water burns on his back at the factory and the management showed no concern about them or their welfare – leaving them to fend for themselves, is that fair? Is that how a company should live with its landlords? Enough is enough!”
Speaking with this paper, Mr Raymond Okongor, Cheif Security Officer (CSO) of the company, who is also an indigene of Okuni, said the management staff of the company have travelled out of town, stressing that the youths’ demands are in place as they deserve to have first-hand knowledge of such foreign nationals doing business in their community.
He said, “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 lawyers are the ones to explain to them and show them the agreement they demand.
“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 after he returns to town.”
The issue of certification has been on the front burner since the Chinese nationals arrived in Okuni in November 2023, buying wood and processing it into wood dust to form plywood for export.
All fingers have been pointing at Barr. Ichiro Okim, the community lawyer, who allegedly holds the community power of attorney, the community chiefs, as well as the Chinese, to unravel the mystery surrounding the agreement entered between the community and the company and the true identity of the Chinese nationals.
Despite the Chinese nationals sending the Police to remove the barricades and ordering the staff to resume work in the said illegal factory, the youths have returned to chase all workers away and re-sealed the entrance.
