Biakpan traditional rulers, elders, and youth representatives from Cross River State reaffirmed their commitment to peace and upholding the Supreme Court judgment on their long-standing land dispute with their Etono II neighbors, despite what they described as ongoing provocations.
In a joint statement, the leaders declared they would not breach the peace accord and appealed to the Cross River State Governor to enforce the accord’s sanctions against violators. They lamented suffering killings and property destruction under the guise of Etono II’s self-determination claims. Biakpan leaders specifically cited a recent incident on October 5, 2025, involving the alleged burning of a multi-million-naira cathedral and tourist sites.
They urged the Governor and various federal security and legal bodies (including the IGP, AGF, and DSS) to respect and implement all court judgments that favored Biakpan, demanding that the aggressors be arrested and prosecuted. They concluded by calling for the Nigerian State to prove that no one is above the law.
The Etono II community, however, denied the accusations of aggression and specifically denied burning the cathedral, claiming the security presence around the building made the act impossible for their members.
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