Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade has sacked with immediate effect his Special Assistant on Forest Security, Thomas Obi Tawo notoriously known as General Iron.
Tawo’s sack contained in a press release with reference number: GO/PRESS/012/VOL.II/014, signed by Christian Ita, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Ayade this Friday, August 6, 2021, further directed Tawo to return all government property in his care with immediate effect.
Government sources in the state confirmed to www.calitown.com that the notorious Tawo’s sack is not unconnected to the vicious and life threatening attack against a former lawmaker in the state, Mark Obi, that he masterminded. That attack, carried out on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, left Obi in a coma. Obi’s house in Boki as well as his vehicle, were massively vandalized.
Shortly after the attack on Obi, Tawo was widely reported to have maintained that he only approached the ex-lawmaker “with my boys who have all worked for him in the past demanding that he settles us for work we did for him”. While the nature of work done remains unclear, investigations carried out and sources in Boki both confirm that the feud is connected to the tussle for the control of portions of the government palm plantations in the area. Unconfirmed reports in the area claim that from palm the seven hectres of palm plantation allocated him, for “loyalty to the governor” General Iron rakes in a princely N20 million monthly, helping to fuel his vicious character.
While he has reigned terror on his local Oku community, government’s latest response clearly accepts that it cannot shield him again. Scared sources in his area secretly told us that unless he is arrested and prosecuted, the community will continue to live in fear.
