PPDF Seeks Probe of Rights Violations, Demands Accountability in Akwa Ibom’s Dakkada Oil Palm Operations
By Ekemini Simon
Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) has called on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to investigate alleged human rights abuses in Etebi Community, Esit Eket Local Government Area, and ensure full transparency and accountability in the ownership and operations of Dakkada Global Oil Palm Limited.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Umo Isua-Ikoh on Monday, PPDF said it was alarmed by “escalating humanitarian, economic and human rights crises” in Etebi, one of the six host communities of the 3,000-hectare Dakkada Global Oil Palm plantation, following its engagement with community leaders led by the village head, Chief Bassey Effiong Bassey.
The organisation said that despite the community not being a conflict zone, military personnel have been deployed in a manner residents describe as intimidating and abusive.
According to the organisation, villagers reported that soldiers operating around the plantation confiscate palm fruits from community members, enter private homes to seize harvested produce, assault women involved in palm processing and trade, and intercept buyers transporting palm fruits from local farms.
PPDF said the reported actions of security personnel had crippled what used to be a thriving palm-based local economy, leaving families impoverished and vulnerable in a community where palm produce has served as the primary source of livelihood for generations.
The organisation also raised concerns over what it described as a “disturbing absence of transparency” in the ownership structure, management, and operational processes of Dakkada Global Oil Palm Limited. It said community leaders complained that government officials, including the Commissioner for Agriculture, had failed to provide documentation or clear explanations about the company’s operations.
According to the release, community members report that requests for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) were dismissed on the grounds that the government had already signed one with the World Bank, a position the foundation said denied communities recognition of their ancestral land rights.
PPDF noted that unlike the former Akwa Palm, which offered employment to local residents, Dakkada Global Oil Palm Limited has been reported to provide no jobs, benefits, or community development support.
The foundation added that community members were yet to see the promised large scale palm mill that was expected to boost local employment, while palm fruits are “routinely harvested and transported out of the area without accountability.”
PPDF called for the immediate withdrawal of military personnel from the plantation and their replacement with civilian security structures that respect human rights. It asked the state government, military hierarchy, and oversight agencies to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of intimidation, property seizure, and the use of security operatives to protect private economic interests.
The group demanded full disclosure of the company’s ownership and governance, publication of revenue records, clarification of partnerships whether with the World Bank or private entities and transparency in revenue sharing formulas and operating agreements.
The release also demanded meaningful dialogue with host communities, restoration of livelihoods through compensation for seized palm produce, and the creation of job opportunities for the youth within plantation operations.
“Akwa Ibom State Government must act swiftly and demonstrate its commitment to justice, transparency, and community development. The lives and dignity of Etebi people depend on immediate intervention,” PPDF stated.