Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has vowed to take decisive action to end the long-running clashes between the people of Biakpan in Biase Local Government Area and their neighbors in Etono 2, warning that the state will no longer tolerate bloodshed over land disputes.
Speaking in Calabar when he received a delegation from the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star led by Patriarch Bassey Imowo, the governor described the crisis as embarrassing and damaging to the image of the state. He warned that where disputes over land persist, government would step in and assume control of the contested areas to forestall further violence. “The issues here are very serious. We have stepped into the Biakpan–Etono communal war. I believe we can settle this issue because we have made it clear to all restive communities that where there is controversy over lands, government will only have to take over such lands. That will avert continual bloodshed,” Otu said.
The governor lamented that the recurring violence had disrupted Biakpan’s role as a major pilgrimage and tourism hub, attracting thousands of visitors annually. He added that arrests had already been made and assured that those found guilty would face the law to serve as a deterrent. “With eminent personalities in both communities, I’m surprised that such barbaric acts have persisted. The persistent violence has been very disturbing because it also hampers tourism, a key revenue source for the state. But I am happy with the efforts and intervention by His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu to bring the two communities together,” he added.
He blamed some of the escalation on lapses by officials who failed to act swiftly, noting that such negligence created room for the violence to grow. “My administration will not fold its arms and allow this to continue. We must end it once and for all,” he stressed.
Earlier, Patriarch Imowo praised the governor for his intervention but explained that the conflict had forced his organization to suspend pilgrimage activities in Biakpan, which normally attract thousands of religious tourists, scholars, and researchers. “Regrettably, the recent violent attacks and counter attacks on both communities has posed serious security threats and put on hold all our programmes in Biakpan and environs. There cannot be any form of development amidst such a dangerous situation. The religious tourists scheduled to pay homage to the birthplace of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu have been hampered, and this has slowed down economic benefits for the people,” Imowo said.
He appealed to the governor to prioritize restoring peace, stressing that only a stable atmosphere would encourage religious tourists, especially foreign nationals, to return. “It is when the atmosphere is peaceful that religious tourists will feel safe to resume regular visitations to Biakpan,” he added.
