Ukorebi Esien | October 14, 2025
CALABAR — The Biakpan Traditional Rulers Council and Concerned Citizens of Biakpan Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State have reaffirmed their commitment to peace while calling on the state and federal governments to enforce the Supreme Court judgment that finally settled the long-standing boundary dispute between Biakpan and Etono II communities.
Speaking during a press briefing held in Calabar on Monday, October 14, the Biakpan leaders said their silence over time should not be mistaken for weakness or acceptance of false narratives, stressing that they remain bound by law, truth, and conscience in their pursuit of peace and justice.
In a joint statement signed by Onun Dr E. B. Enun, Onun Lawrence E. Ekpezu, Onun Obu Obu Enang, and Chief Godwin Ekpezu, the community said it has become imperative to "set the records straight" regarding the ownership and administration of the disputed land, as misinformation continues to circulate in the public space.
The Biakpan leaders recalled that the High Court of Calabar, in Suit No. C/6/73, had in 1986 declared that "the land occupied by Etono II village is part of Biakpan communal land under the headship of the Paramount Ruler of Biakpan."
That judgment was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal in 1989 and affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1996 in Ojah vs. Ogboni (1996) 6 NWLR (Pt. 454) 272 (SC).
They noted that, despite the finality of the Supreme Court's decision, the Etono II community has continued to flout court orders, violate peace accords, and provoke unrest, including the recent destruction of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star cathedral at the "New Jerusalem" in Biakpan during the period of an existing peace accord signed on August 1, 2025.
The community commended Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu for his swift intervention in the recent hostilities and expressed confidence in his administration's commitment to truth and fairness in resolving the crisis.
They also appreciated the Chairman of Biase Local Government Council for supporting peace efforts at the grassroots.
The Biakpan Traditional Rulers Council further appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Director of State Security Service, National Human Rights Commission, and Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene and ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for killings, arson, and destruction of properties in the area.
The community maintained that all administrative pronouncements and government communications since 1996, including letters from successive Secretaries to the State Government and the 2007 Press Release by the Donald Duke administration, have consistently recognized Etono II as part and parcel of Biakpan, sharing common ancestry and communal land ownership.
The Biakpan community pledged to continue cooperating with government authorities, security agencies, and peacebuilding organizations to restore lasting harmony in Biase Local Government Area, while insisting that justice must remain the foundation for sustainable peace.
CALABAR — The Biakpan Traditional Rulers Council and Concerned Citizens of Biakpan Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State have reaffirmed their commitment to peace while calling on the state and federal governments to enforce the Supreme Court judgment that finally settled the long-standing boundary dispute between Biakpan and Etono II communities.
Speaking during a press briefing held in Calabar on Monday, October 14, the Biakpan leaders said their silence over time should not be mistaken for weakness or acceptance of false narratives, stressing that they remain bound by law, truth, and conscience in their pursuit of peace and justice.
In a joint statement signed by Onun Dr E. B. Enun, Onun Lawrence E. Ekpezu, Onun Obu Obu Enang, and Chief Godwin Ekpezu, the community said it has become imperative to "set the records straight" regarding the ownership and administration of the disputed land, as misinformation continues to circulate in the public space.
"We are constrained by good conscience and our sincere desire for peace and development in our community to once again tell the true story about this conflict, our pains, losses, and the facts as determined by competent courts of law," the statement read in part.
The Biakpan leaders recalled that the High Court of Calabar, in Suit No. C/6/73, had in 1986 declared that "the land occupied by Etono II village is part of Biakpan communal land under the headship of the Paramount Ruler of Biakpan."
That judgment was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal in 1989 and affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1996 in Ojah vs. Ogboni (1996) 6 NWLR (Pt. 454) 272 (SC).
They noted that, despite the finality of the Supreme Court's decision, the Etono II community has continued to flout court orders, violate peace accords, and provoke unrest, including the recent destruction of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star cathedral at the "New Jerusalem" in Biakpan during the period of an existing peace accord signed on August 1, 2025.
"Even in the face of these provocations, we have chosen peace over retaliation. But peace without justice is a mirage," the statement emphasised. "We therefore call on the Cross River State Government and all relevant security agencies to ensure the full enforcement of the subsisting Supreme Court judgment as required by Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution."
The community commended Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu for his swift intervention in the recent hostilities and expressed confidence in his administration's commitment to truth and fairness in resolving the crisis.
They also appreciated the Chairman of Biase Local Government Council for supporting peace efforts at the grassroots.
The Biakpan Traditional Rulers Council further appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Director of State Security Service, National Human Rights Commission, and Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene and ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for killings, arson, and destruction of properties in the area.
The community maintained that all administrative pronouncements and government communications since 1996, including letters from successive Secretaries to the State Government and the 2007 Press Release by the Donald Duke administration, have consistently recognized Etono II as part and parcel of Biakpan, sharing common ancestry and communal land ownership.
"We seek peace anchored on truth, equity, and respect for the rule of law," the statement concluded. "No community is bigger than the State, and no one should be allowed to undermine the authority of the Nigerian Constitution."
The Biakpan community pledged to continue cooperating with government authorities, security agencies, and peacebuilding organizations to restore lasting harmony in Biase Local Government Area, while insisting that justice must remain the foundation for sustainable peace.
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