By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) — The Biakpan Traditional Rulers Council and Concerned Citizens of Biakpan Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State have urged the state and federal governments to enforce long-standing court judgments and official pronouncements regarding their land dispute with neighbouring Etono II community.
At a press briefing in Calabar, the Biakpan leadership, comprising chiefs, elders, and community representatives, addressed journalists to clarify what they described as “misrepresentations and distortions” surrounding the conflict. They reaffirmed their commitment to peace and the rule of law, while demanding justice and accountability for repeated violations by Etono II.
Historical Boundaries and Origins of Dispute
The Biakpan Traditional Rulers Council restated the legally and historically recognised boundaries of Biakpan land, citing Plan No. EAAC/446/LD and colonial administrative records. They listed neighbouring communities and specific landmark points that have defined Biakpan’s territorial boundaries for decades.
According to the council, Etono II originated from Biakpan and shared a common ancestry and communal land ownership structure until after the Nigerian Civil War in 1970. Tensions began when Etono II declared independence and laid exclusive claim to communal lands, rejecting reconciliation efforts.
Early Peace Efforts and Legal Battles
Multiple mediations between 1972 and 1973 by neighbouring communities — including Etono Central, Agwagune, and Ugbem — failed, as Etono II representatives reportedly walked out of peace meetings and rejected resolutions.
This led Biakpan to seek legal redress. In Suit No. C/6/73 filed at the High Court of Calabar, judgment delivered on 7 March 1986 declared that the land occupied by Etono II village formed part of Biakpan communal land under the Paramount Ruler’s authority. The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining Etono II from alienating or administering the land independently.
The Court of Appeal (Appeal No. CA/E/98/86) affirmed the High Court judgment in April 1989, and the Supreme Court (SC.100/1990) upheld both judgments on 11 June 1996 in Ojah vs. Ogboni (1996) 6 NWLR (Pt. 454) 272 (SC).
Government Position and Repeated Violations
Following the Supreme Court judgment, the Cross River State Government in 1996 formally directed Etono II to abide by the court decision. Successive administrations — including those of Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke — reiterated this position through official correspondences and press releases, emphasising that Etono II remains part of Biakpan.
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The government stated that any assertion of independence by Etono II could only occur through lawful means and with the consent of Biakpan people, not by disobeying judicial decisions.
Despite these directives, the Biakpan leadership accused Etono II of persistent defiance, including violent attacks and destruction of property. Notable incidents listed include the 1987 attack on a religious procession that resulted in multiple deaths, killings and ambushes in the 2000s, and recent violence in March and October 2025 — including the burning of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star rebuilt church auditorium at New Jerusalem.
Calls for Action
The Biakpan community expressed concern over what they described as years of impunity, where perpetrators have not been arrested or prosecuted despite police reports and eyewitness accounts.
They called on the Cross River State Government, Inspector-General of Police, National Human Rights Commission, Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Department of State Services to:
- Enforce the judgments of the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court in line with Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
- Arrest and prosecute those responsible for killings, arson, and other criminal acts related to the dispute.
Commitment to Peace
While maintaining that they remain committed to peace, the Biakpan community insisted that sustainable peace must be anchored on truth, justice, and respect for the rule of law.
“For too long, failure to take appropriate action by relevant Government Agencies has turned aggressors into victims and victims into the accused,” the statement read. “Enough is enough. The time has come for the Nigerian State to prove that no one is above the law and no community is bigger than the State.”
The press briefing was signed by traditional and community leaders including Onun Dr E. B. Enun, Onun Lawrence E. Ekpezu, Onun Obu Obu Enang, and Chief Godwin Ekpezu.
