Cross River Cocoa Crisis Deepens: Former Aide Claims Assassination Attempt, Points To State Security Adviser
Dr Oscar Ofuka, the immediate past Special Adviser on Cocoa Development and Control in Cross River State, has raised alarm over what he described as an assassination attempt on his life, allegedly linked to deep-seated interests in the state’s cocoa sector.
Narrating his ordeal, Ofuka said the incident occurred between 10PM to 11PM on Monday, August 25, at his residence in Satellite Town, Calabar. According to him, two suspicious vehicles—an ash-coloured Toyota Corolla with plate number APJ/283/EM and a black car with no plates—had been parked outside his home for several hours.
“They had been monitoring me for about four days,” Ofuka alleged. “On that day, they tried to lure information from my little daughter, asking if she knew ‘Engineer Oscar’ and demanding my phone number. Later, they confronted my son and the gatekeeper, insisting they wanted to strike a deal with the ‘cocoa man’ in the compound. It was clear they were out for me.”
Sensing danger, Ofuka alerted the police, including the Airport Division and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit. Security operatives later intercepted one of the suspects, who reportedly confessed and alleged that he had been sent by Major General Okoi Ubi Obono (rtd), the Senior Special Adviser on Security (State Security Adviser) to Sen Bassey Edet Otu, Governor of the State, to monitor him. He also mentioned a notorious cult figure, Wunoh from Yala Local Government, as the leader of the mission.
“The man begged for his life when the police caught him,” Ofuka said. “He confessed that they were on a mission sanctioned from above. It was chilling to hear that the State Security Adviser himself was aware.”
Cocoa Crisis And Long History Of Ordeals
Dr Ofuka’s claims come against the backdrop of longstanding disputes over cocoa land allocations and royalties in Cross River State. Since he was appointed Special Adviser by Sen Ben Ayade, the immediate past governor, he has championed reforms to settle a decades-old litigation involving landlord communities, who accused the state of failing to pay royalties on over 4,500 hectares of cocoa plantations.
Through negotiations, court-backed settlements, and the introduction of a “SmartGov” allocation system, he ensured landlords received over ₦37 million in royalties for the first time in 16 years. The arrangement was hailed for bringing peace to a sector long plagued by conflict.
However, Ofuka alleges that vested interests sabotaged the system by authorising new allocations that overlapped with previously settled land, creating double allocations and fresh tension.
“This crisis is man-made,” he said. “I captured in my handover notes that 3,137 hectares were unallocated, while 1,415 hectares had already been settled. Instead of continuing from where we stopped, they reallocated what we had already resolved, undermining the peace we achieved.”
The former aide also recalled past ordeals, including arrests under the previous administration. He said he was twice detained—first in Abuja and later in Lagos—over allegations of unpaid royalties, despite being a mere adviser. In 2014, a State High Court awarded him ₦50 million in damages for wrongful arrest and detention, a judgment he says remains unexecuted.
Fear For Safety
Following the latest incident, Ufuka says police and allies have advised him to leave the state temporarily for his safety.
“I cannot just give my life for cocoa,” he told journalists. “Those who benefited from my reforms are the very people now trying to eliminate me. But I have my records, court orders, and settlement agreements to prove that I acted in the interest of peace and development.”
State Security Adviser Denies Assassination Allegations, Calls For Caution In Reporting
This reporter called Major General Okoi Ubi Obono (rtd), the Senior Special Adviser on Security to Sen Bassey Edet Otu, to get his side of the story. He denied the allegation and said he doesn’t know any Oscar Ofuka.
“That person just sat down in his room and told you I wanted to assassinate him. Even the person you are talking about, do I even know him? Even if he passes away, I don’t even know him. And I want to assassinate him over cocoa. Do I have a cocoa farm?” Major General Obono (rtd) said.
He urged this reporter not to publish the story or face legal action. “Well, if you go and publish it, I will sue you for it. How can somebody allege, and then you want to publish it? Please, you don’t publish. Okay, I didn’t do it. Am I a cocoa farmer?
“So, why should I assassinate somebody because of cocoa? Do I have a farm there? Anybody who is saying that is his own imagination. Why? Am I from Etung? I’m from Yakurr local government.
“Do I have a farm? Please, in your own interest, don’t publish that story. Because I will follow that story to a logical conclusion. You have done the needful. I will advise that you discard that report. Don’t even think about it, please.”
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Cross River State Police Command, SP Irene Ugbo, was also called, but she said the police are not aware of the alleged assassination attempt.
“I’m not aware.” She responds. Upon further verification, she stated, “We are not aware.”