Ukorebi Esien | 9th May 2025
CALABAR — The lingering crisis between Etinyin Ita Nyong and the Ekorinim community dates back to 2021, when this publication first reported an incident involving a youth leader who was allegedly shot by a police officer said to be working for Chief Nyong.
Since then, the community has witnessed a series of conflicts, most of which are connected to the sale of community lands and properties—many allegedly facilitated by Etinyin Ita Nyong.
In a recent development, our reporter was informed that a parcel of land reserved for the Ekorinim Community Market has been illegally sold. According to a reliable source, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, the land had been officially designated and approved for the market project by the Ekorinim Town Council and traditional chiefs. The land, which borders the Ikot Ansa community, was intended to serve residents of Ekorinim, Diamond, and surrounding communities.
Our reporter obtained copies of the approved building plans, which further confirmed the land's intended use. However, investigations revealed that the land has now been subdivided and sold to private individuals, some of whom have already begun construction.
In an interview with the Councillor representing Ward Five in Calabar Municipality, Hon. Augustine Edet Nyong, he expressed deep concern over the actions of Etinyin Ita Nyong. According to him, the land had long been reserved for the market project, and he has been actively working to see the project come to fruition.
"I have presented the market plan to the Chairman of Council, seeking local government support for the development. I'm even planning an investment dinner to attract investors, with the market as our flagship project," he disclosed.
Hon. Augustine described the situation as disheartening, emphasizing that while young leaders are striving to bring development to the area, one individual is allegedly selling off community assets for personal gain.
"It's painful. We, the youths, are working hard to attract development, yet someone is busy disposing of community properties for selfish reasons," he lamented.
He further confirmed that he had visited the site personally and found construction activities underway. On one occasion, he confronted and sent away some of the workers. He has since directed community leaders to halt all land sales in Ekorinim until the ongoing leadership dispute is resolved.
Efforts to reach Etinyin Ita Nyong for comment proved unsuccessful, as he neither answered nor returned calls as of press time.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Mayor of Calabar Municipality, Pastor Okon Nyong, whose office is mandated by law to manage conflicts and promote peace within the local government area, has assured that he will intervene promptly to resolve the crisis.
Reacting to the incident, the State Coordinator of Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta (P4P), Mr. Eteng Eteng, called on community leaders to protect communal assets and refrain from actions that hinder the development and unity of their communities.
Mr. Eteng emphasized that P4P, a network of certified peacebuilders and crisis management professionals, will work with relevant government agencies to ensure peace is restored in Ekorinim.
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