The longstanding dispute over the rightful ownership of the contested Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve between the oil-rich communities of Ibeno and Ekid in Akwa Ibom State has escalated once again, with signs pointing toward a potential resurgence of conflict, LEADERSHIP reports from the weekend.
This forest reserve, a portion of which the State government has recently appropriated and allocated to companies including the BUA Petrochemical refinery and fertilizer plant, remains a hotspot of continuous tension between the Ekid and Ibeno peoples.
Represented by the Ekid People’s Union (EPU) under the leadership of President General Dr. Samuel Udonsak, the Ekid community asserts that the reserve-abundant in oil, gas, aquatic life, minerals, and agricultural wealth-rightfully belongs to the Ekid nation. They base their claim on colonial-era and post-independence legal rulings.
However, Chief Udofia Okon Udofia, secretary of the Ibeno Clan Council (ICC), vehemently rejects the EPU’s stance, labeling their claims as biased fabrications designed to undermine peace efforts. He accuses the Ekid leaders of spreading misinformation, distorting historical facts, and attempting to discredit Governor Umo Eno to avoid participating in a peace committee proposed by the governor himself.
In an interview at Upenekang, the administrative center of Ibeno local government, Udofia condemned the EPU’s refusal to engage with the governor’s peace initiative as an act of evasion. He emphasized that Ekid lacks credible evidence-such as maps, legal documents, or court judgments-to substantiate their ownership of the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve.
“Stubbs Creek cannot be discussed without acknowledging Ibeno’s claim. The vast expanse of the forest reserve lies within Ibeno’s domain. Historical maps from colonial times through to current Akwa Ibom boundaries clearly place it in Ibeno territory. The Ekid people’s assertions are built on falsehoods,” Udofia asserted.
He further dismissed the Ekid’s reliance on the 1916/1918 court case as a “misinterpreted precedent,” clarifying that the dispute was originally between two Ibeno families-Chief Ntiedo of Upenekang and Chief Ikpak of Mkpanak-with no Ekid involvement. The so-called witness from Eket, Mr. Edohoeket, was merely a servant to Chief Ntiedo, making Ekid’s claim based on this case unfounded.
Udofia went on to accuse the British judge who initially ruled in favor of Ekid of partiality and corruption, noting that Judge Webber, married to an Eket woman and residing among them, manipulated the verdict to favor Ekid. However, Ibeno successfully appealed the decision, with the appellate court rejecting the initial ruling as unjustified.
“Ibeno emerged victorious on appeal. Ekid later filed another suit over Stubbs Creek, but in 1980, the judgment again favored Ibeno, awarding damages of N200,000 against Ekid. These documents exist, yet Ekid seeks to suppress this truth,” he recalled.
Addressing the EPU’s claim that they granted Ibeno land for fishing and settlement, Udofia challenged the legitimacy of such assertions, questioning whether Ekid represents the federal government. He demanded that Ekid produce any treaties or documents supporting their claim, contrasting this with Ibeno’s well-documented agreements with Portuguese and European powers predating the existence of Eket.
Udofia accused the EPU leadership of inciting unrest in the region and expressed their fear of any genuine peace process, including Governor Eno’s proposed Peace Committee, which threatens to expose their falsehoods.
“They lack historical records, maps, or factual evidence. That’s why they avoid the Governor’s committee. If they possess any proof, they should present it; otherwise, they should be ashamed,” he stated.
While affirming Ibeno’s support for Governor Eno’s peace efforts, Udofia cautioned that their patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
“We are committed to peace because of the Governor’s intervention, but Ibeno will defend its territory if provoked. Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve has always been and will remain Ibeno’s land,” he warned.
He urged Ekid to pursue the ongoing ownership case at the Appeal Court in Calabar and to publicly disclose their evidence during the Governor’s Peace Committee sessions, putting an end to their propaganda.
“The truth is known worldwide: Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve belongs to Ibeno. The falsehoods from Eket and Esit Eket local governments cannot rewrite history,” Udofia concluded.
