The people of Effi community in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River have bemaoned the constant harassment of its tradional heads by officers of the state command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The community made this known in a petition by its lawyer, Ichire Okim and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday.

Okim described the series of invitations extended Effi community traditional rulers by authority of the NIS in the state as uneccessary.

In the petition dated August 30 and titled Re: "National Security Risk Urgent Action Required, Suspicious Entry into Effi Community Forest and the Cross River South Forest Reserve without and Diplomatic and Security Clearance" Okim frowned at the invitations.

"For Christ sake, why are they tossing the the traditional rulers around like a football? These are my clients. I can't sit down fold my arms and watch them toss them around like that.

"Chinese nationals only visited our
community and said that they want something from our community, whether we agree or not is that an issue?

"In the first instance, my clients, Effi community traditional rulers had not even entered into any aggurement with the Chinese nationals, unfortunately this has become a big issue.

"Let me state clearly here that it's because of an inciting and faultfinding letter written by one Odey Oyama to the Immigration authority that is generating so much dust like this," Okim stated.

In the petition, Okim accused Oyama of ploting to distablise the peace and good relation enjoyed among community members home and abroad, claiming that Effi community have right to entertain visitation.

"Nigerian Immigration Service and other relevant Government agencies have done the needful before the foreign nationals gained entry and accused our client.

In his reaction to the issue, Odey, an Executive Director Rain Forest Reserve and Development, said he had no regret about the petition which he sent to the immigration authority and other relevant government agencies.

"All am doing is to protect the Chinese against depleting the forest.

"We have made preparation to set up our timber shade once we get clearance from Forestry Commission. That we will do through forest regeneration," he said.

Meanwhile, the state spokesperson of the NIS, Ms Nora Ajana declined comment on the matter when her reaction was sought.

Ok