Calabar, Nigeria – Violence has engulfed the Iko Esai community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State following the enthronement of two village heads, leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties worth billions of naira.
The conflict has left many residents homeless, with over fifty houses burnt and several people either wounded or killed. The crisis has further deepened fears of insecurity in the area, as those affected call for urgent government intervention.
A former Personal Assistant to the Deputy Leader of Akamkpa Local Government Council, Patrick Aidam, expressed concerns over the plight of Chief Obio Arong Owai, the Clan Head of Iko Esai, whose family members were brutally murdered.
“Today, the Clan Head of Iko Esai, Chief Obio Arong Owai, whose elder sister and daughter, Ma Titi Igwe Oyama and Bessie Igwe Oyama, were gruesomely murdered in cold blood, has been detained instead of receiving justice. His houses and cars were burnt down, yet he is the one awaiting charges for crimes in which he is not a victim,” Aidam stated.
He alleged that those responsible for the violence have powerful backers, which has hindered meaningful intervention to end the suffering of the people.
Hon. Okon Owuna, the member representing Akamkpa-1 in the Cross River State House of Assembly, linked the crisis to a long-standing dispute over the community’s forest resources.
He revealed that the conflict originated five years ago when a faction of the village council and some youths sold the Iko Esai forest to non-indigenous investors, leading to internal strife.
“The matter was taken to the Akamkpa High Court, but the parties later approached me seeking an alternative peace resolution.
“I made an application to the court for the withdrawal of the case, and with the help of other elders, we facilitated a successful peace process,” Owuna said.
However, the renewed violence was allegedly triggered by the payment of royalties from the Iko Ekperim forest to one of the factions, sparking tensions that escalated into deadly clashes.
“I held three meetings in Calabar and five in Akamkpa with both parties. The peace talks were costly but effective, and an agreement was signed to maintain peace before 2023,” Owuna added.
With the latest outbreak of violence, Owuna has called on the Cross River State Government to reinforce security operatives in the area, declare a state of emergency, and impose a curfew to prevent further bloodshed.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Akamkpa Local Government Area, Felix Akposi, has denied allegations of involvement in the crisis. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Agbor, he dismissed claims that he played a role in the removal of the Clan Head.
“Rather than being appreciated for his efforts to maintain peace, the Chairman has become a scapegoat for those who thrive in conflict and disorder,” the statement read in part.
He maintained that chieftaincy matters are governed by statutory and traditional laws, and at no point has the Local Government Council interfered in such affairs.
As tensions remain high in Iko Esai, residents continue to demand swift government intervention to restore peace and stability to the troubled community.
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