Mudiaga Affe, Calabar

A traditional injunction known as Ekpe (juju) in the Efik tradition of Cross River was on Friday discovered at the gate of a multi-billion naira flour mill in Calabar.

Southern City News learnt on Friday that the juju, made of yellow palm fronts and ‘Ekpe’ leaves, scared workers away from the company.

The company is located at the popular flour mill junction along the Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar.

The presence of the juju at the gate of the company had scared several workers from gaining access into the company.

An eye witness, Sabastine Umoh, said the juju was placed in the early hours of Friday by some unidentified angry youths to register their anger over the alleged neglect of their community by the company.

Umoh alleged that the company had not given attention to the plights of the people and the landlord communities as well as not employing its youths into top positions.

 He said, “When this kind of thing happens, it means the company has not given adequate attention to the needs of the landlord communities and the people. I understand that the youths are complaining of unemployment while the landlord communities also allege neglect.”

A traditional leader, who craved anonymity, said he was aware of complaints of neglect by the company to its host communities.

“The management has not consulted with the land lord communities. They should have consulted the elders. But those who placed this juju here are not from my lineage who are the direct landlord of this land where the company is standing,” he said.

A staff member of the company, who did not want his name mentioned, said, “The host communities have tried to meet with the management of the company but the present general manager refused to meet with them.

“They have been complaining that their children are not well paid and that present management has not given to the community the royalties due them. We know all these but as staff, we cannot tell the present management what to do,” he said.

Attempts to speak with any management staff of the company proved abortive as our correspondent was directed to approach the head office in Lagos for comments on the matter.

When contacted over the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Irene Ugbo, said she was yet to receive any report on that. ‘Nobody has reported this matter to us,” she stated.

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