Akwa Ibom community seeks Eno’s intervention in alleged land invasion

A major ethnic nationality in Akwa Ibom State, the Ekid Development Union (EDU), has urged Governor Umo Eno to compel Ibeno Local Government, the State Ministry of Lands, and security agencies to obey his March 1st, 2024 order forbidding any further development on its land at Odoro Okuku within Akoiyak, better known as Stubbs Creek Forest.

The community lamented that the forest, which had remained a biodiversity sanctuary for decades, is being aggressively invaded by Ibeno LGA with the active support of security agents to erect a health centre and other illegal structures without the consent of the landowners.

According to the union, further attempts to build a health facility on Ekid land for Ibeno by the State Government or any other person portrays nothing but persecution and conspiracy against the Ekid people and their interests.

In a statement jointly signed by EDU President-General, Dr. Samuel Udonsak, and the Secretary-General, Barr. Bassey Dan-Abia, the union noted that the invasion of the land by Ibeno LGA for any purpose amounts to grave provocation and violation of the fundamental rights of the Ekid people.

EDU noted that the invasion breached the Forest Reserve Ordinance of 1948, Forest Reserve Regulations, and the directive of the Akwa Ibom State governor’s order of March 1, 2024, forbidding further development on Stubbs Creek.

The community stated: “It has come to our attention that agents of Ibeno Local Government, in connivance with the state ministry of lands, have cleared large swathes of land at Odoro Okuku within Akoiyak (Stubbs Creek Forest), bonafide property of Ekid, and are now pegging it with the intention of building a health facility for Ibeno Local Government Area on Ekid land.

“Also, our people living in Ndito Eka Iba village have informed us that Ibeno people, in connivance with agents of the State Government, have leased our land at Ndito Eka Iba to a Chinese company, and presently, are clearing our economic crops there.

“Such developments are grave provocations and violations of the fundamental rights of the Ekid people. They constitute breaches of the Forest Reserve Ordinance of 1948 (as amended), and Forest Reserve Regulations, and further violate the Governor’s March 1st, 2024 order forbidding any further development on the Stubbs Creek Forest.

“We deem this act as the ultimate incitement and provocation of the Ekid people to action. We have every right to defend ourselves, our interests, and our territory.

“We wish to inform Ibeno Local Government, the State Government, Commissioner for Lands, security agencies, and the general public that by the 1918 Privy Council Judgment, Ekid people own the swamps and lands lying from the mouth of Qua Iboe River to Child Point (Okposo).

“This area includes the Stubbs Creek Forest and the Forest Reserve (see the case of Ntiaro and Ikpak v. Ibok Etokakpan and Edohoeket (1918) 3 NLR 10 — 15).

“Let it also be noted that the only part of the Stubbs Creek Forest (Akoiyak) known to law and the Ekid people to have been de-reserved and legally acquired from the Ekid people is the ExxonMobil QIT Facility Location.

“Due compensation was paid to the Ekid people and no other. The Akwa Ibom State Government holds the records and is aware of these facts.

“There can be no pretense of ignorance that the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve (SCFR) is a biodiversity hotspot containing various ecosystem types, including freshwater swamps, mangrove swamps, and beach ridges, which form a habitat for a variety of flora and fauna, properly delineated by a survey plan.

“The public should also note that the Esit Urua Palm Plantation is not, and has never been, part of the Stubbs Creek Forest or Forest Reserve. From time immemorial, it is and has been the farmland and plantation of the Esit Urua people of Ekid. No known claims to the contrary exist to date.

“When His Excellency the Governor of Akwa Ibom State visited in the aftermath of the crises on March 1st, 2024, he promised to remove all the illegal structures in Stubbs Creek Forest.

“But as of today, not only have the structures not been removed, but Ibeno is exclusively allowed and protected to continue building more permanent structures in Stubbs Creek Forest, notwithstanding that the construction of permanent structures in the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve violates enabling laws.

“As peaceful and law-abiding people, we strongly demand that Ibeno Local Government and the Akwa Ibom State Government Ministries, agencies, and parastatals, or their agents, privies, and assigns, must abide by the Governor’s March 1st, 2024 order forbidding further development on Stubbs Creek Forest, including the proposed health centre. It is in contravention of the Forest Reserve Ordinance and should be stopped forthwith.”