The "Nigerian Easter Mail" Alleges Slavery in Oron. The West African Pilot, Lagos, January 21, 1939. Recruitment of labour for island of Fernando Po. 1939. CO 554/119/5


The "Nigerian Easter Mail" Alleges Slavery in Oron




Calabar - That a recrudescence of slaver and forced labour, of the kind which involved the Republic of Liberia in 1929 and brought it into international disrepute, might exist at Oron and nearby district, is the sensational thesis propounded in tha January 14th issue of the "Nigerian Eastern Mail".
     The Newspaper explain that on the pretext that they were running canoe ferries between Oron and Calabar, the smugglers, who are apparently in the pay of plantation ownders or their agents in Fernando Po, manage to perpetrate this inhumanity on their fellow men.
     The following is the full text of the publication of the "Eastern Mail."


What really looks like indirect resuscitation of the old slave trade thought to have been completely stamped out, is being persistently and diligently pursued in this district in the form of organized labour recruiting to the Spanish island of Fernando Po by some individuals. 
     Up to the time of writing, a great many people, especially the unemployed, have fallen victims to this notorious form of trade which should receive the fullest, attention of the Police Department.
     Those already transfported to Fernando Po, although belonging to the lower walks of life, were inveigled into the belief that were going to be employed in one form of work or another with sound remuneration an, in view of the prevailing unemployment causing widespread economic poverty, allowed themselves to be taken to a destination where they soon found themselves unwilling slaves under Spanish white planters. 
     Their treatment is in no degree less rigorous than that meted out to the slaves of old.
     For their reward, a good sum of money is generally paid to these so called labour "organizers" whose secret rendevouz is reported to have been around Oron. 
     Further report is to the effect that visitors to Calabar who run the risk to take canoe ferry might unkowingly fall into the hands of the "slave dealers" who pose daily at Oron as canoe ferry men.
     It is alleged that was recently a case of drowning off oron, following the discovery by the passenger that they were being transported to Fernando Po, while their intention was to go to Calabar.
While the Police vigialnce is strongly neede, it is to be deplored that this wicked practiced should have been resuscitated by those who thought they could eke out an existence at the expense of the freedom of others.
     Public Opinoin condems the evil practice and in fact there can bo no two opinions upon the inhumanity of such a practice.
     In an interview with Superintended of Police, the Eastern Mail learned that the Police expirienced great difficulty in enlisting the help and cooperation of members of the public in this matter, although unrelaxing vigilance was being maintained to meet the situation.
      They had challenged several canoes carrying passengers only to be infrormed that Fernando Po was not their destination, and as it was not the duty of the police to interfere with the liberty of the people, these canoes would be allowed to pass.
     The Superintendent of Police wished the general public to be informed through the medium of this paper that those intending to go to Fernando Po would meet nothing but slavery and starvation there.
     He had been informed by the doctor that those returned from the island did so with broken health due to bad living.