By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The lingering communal conflict between Biakpan and Etono II communities in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State has deepened, as the Concerned People of Etono II Community have strongly rejected Biakpan’s claims of shared ancestry and land ownership.
In a press statement issued on 15 October 2025, the Etono II community described the Biakpan Traditional Rulers Council’s earlier press briefing of 14 October 2025 in Calabar as “filled with distortions, falsehoods, and deliberate attempts to misrepresent historical facts and judicial records.”
Etono II: ‘We Do Not Share Common Ancestry with Biakpan’
The statement, signed by Prince Enene Eke on behalf of the Concerned People of Etono II Community, categorically dismissed Biakpan’s claim that Etono II shares ancestral or blood ties with them.
“Etono II is a distinct community with its own history, traditional institutions, culture, language and heritage that predates any form of settlement expansion from Biakpan,” the statement read.
The group alleged that Biakpan’s insistence on referring to Etono II as “brothers” is a “strategic ploy to claim ancestral ownership of Etono II land”, which they totally reject.
Community Disputes Supreme Court Interpretation
The Etono II community also refuted Biakpan’s interpretation of the 1996 Supreme Court judgment in the case Chief Oja Ojah & Ors. v. Chief Eyo Ogboni & Ors. According to them, the ruling “did not grant Biakpan ownership of Etono II land, but rather recognised the separate communal identity of Etono II within the contested area.”
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They accused Biakpan of misinterpreting and misapplying judicial authority to justify land claims and called it misleading to present the judgment as an endorsement of Biakpan’s ownership.
‘Alleges Biakpan Has Been the Aggressor’
Etono II accused Biakpan youths of launching repeated acts of aggression, arson and violence against their community, allegedly hiring armed groups from other states to enforce what they described as “non-existent land rights.”
“In a bid to enforce the Supreme Court judgment their own way, they have hired different machineries across different states with sophisticated weapons, launched series of aggressive attacks on us to make sure Etono II ceases to exist. Now that their evil plans have completely failed, they’re calling on government to help them enforce the Supreme Court judgment against us,” the statement alleged.
They maintained that despite these incidents, Etono II has continued to report cases to security agencies and has remained committed to peace.
Denial of Brotherhood Bethel Burning
The community also denied involvement in the recent burning of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star’s rebuilt auditorium in Biakpan, describing the accusation as baseless.
They called on law enforcement agencies to conduct an independent investigation into the incident rather than allow Biakpan to “exploit the tragedy for propaganda purposes.”
Call for Neutral Intervention
Etono II restated its commitment to peace based on truth, fairness and mutual respect, while rejecting any attempt at subjugation.
The group urged the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Director of the State Security Service to ensure neutral and fact-based investigations free from manipulation.
“We are not and have never been under the headship or traditional authority of Biakpan. Any claim to the contrary is false, provocative, and unacceptable,” the statement added.
Ongoing Government Intervention
Etono II described Biakpan’s press statement as an attempt to influence the ongoing intervention by the Cross River State Government and the Biase Local Government Council aimed at resolving the prolonged dispute.
They warned that any continued attempt to “forcefully enforce” the Supreme Court judgment as interpreted by Biakpan could escalate tensions, stating they would not fold their arms while their people are attacked.
