Aggrieved by the decision of the Cross River State government to privatize a cocoa plantation in their area, women in Bendeghe Ekiem and Abia communities in Etung LGA have threatened to go nude.
This came days after members of the affected communities staged a protest, demanding that the government should halt the action.
NATIONAL POST learnt that the protest stemmed from a notice issued by the state government, indicating its intention to privatise some cocoa estates in many communities, especially those in Bendeghe Ekiem, Abia and nearby communities.
But the locals have stoutly rejected the plan.
Their grouse is that they would be deprived of employment and their means of livelihood.
According to them, it was also against the letters of an agreement they had with the government.
As a follow up to an earlier protest, the Bendeghe Ekiem women have now issued a threat to go naked.
They said the purpose was to further illustrate their displeasure against the government's neglect and negation of responsibility to them.
They gave the commissioner for agriculture, Johnson Ebokpo a 15-day ultimatum to withdraw the privatization plan.
Speaking, women leader, Ntunkai Mary Obi and Chief Helen Ogar charged the commissioner to dialogue with leaders of the community on the issue to enable them know the next line of action on the issue.
"Starting from today, we have given 2 weeks ultimatum to the commissioner for agriculture to get back to us after this protest for us to dialogue, otherwise we'll proceed to the plantation and walk around naked as our culture prescribes," they vowed.
In company of the women were the community youth leader, Comrade Tandu Kingsley and Mr. Etta Atu-Ojua, who all expressed their displeasure over the planned privatization of the estate.
They urged the Agric Commissioner to reverse the decision.
"With this estate, the crime rate has reduced as our youths were engaged meaningfully.
"We knew what our community went through before now. We pray not to return to such a state again," they stated.
As of the time of filing this report, the Cross State government is yet to react to the latest protest.