Tension in Akwa Ibom Oil Community Over Disputed Forest
Governor Umo Eno
Leaders, elders, and stakeholders of Ibeno Local Government Area, a coastal oil-bearing community in Akwa Ibom State, have issued a passionate appeal to Governor Umo Eno for urgent intervention to prevent escalating tensions over the disputed Stubbs Creek Forest, which is now being claimed by the neighbouring Ekid ethnic group.
It was gathered that the Ekid people have allegedly seized and renamed the disputed area “Akoiyak Eket,” stating that the expansive stretch of coastal forest belongs to them.
Operating under their umbrella socio-cultural organization, the Ekid People’s Union (EPU), led by its President-General, Dr. Samuel Udonsak, the group claims that the afforested area,extending into multiple local government areas is ancestral Ekid land. The EPU has threatened to take action if the state government does not intervene in their favour.
However, the Ibeno community insists otherwise. They argue that Stubbs Creek is their ancestral land, stretching along the Atlantic coastline and hosting critical national assets such as the Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT), the BUA Refinery, and other multi-billion-dollar oil and gas facilities.
According to the Ibeno stakeholders, companies including BUA Petrochemical have been legally issued titles by the state government to build refineries and related projects. They warned that any attempt to revoke these allocations based on EPU’s demands would be met with resistance.
In a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting at Ulok Ulok Hall, Upenekang (headquarters of Ibeno LGA) on Sunday, the Ulok Ulok Progressives Assembly (UUPA), speaking through its spokesperson, Chief Udofia Okon Udofia, strongly condemned EPU’s actions.
“There is no such place as ‘Akoiyak Ekid’ on any official map of Akwa Ibom State,” the communiqué stated.
It described the name as “fraudulent geography and a shameless attempt at land grabbing.”
According to Ibeno leaders “There has never been any case of land racketeering in Stubbs Creek. If concerns arise, the Ibeno people are fully capable of addressing them. We do not need outsiders or busybodies from the EPU interfering in Ibeno affairs.”
They further accused the EPU of persistently attempting to provoke conflict and extend what they described as “restive and provocative tendencies” into Ibeno. “Such antics will be resisted—vehemently and fiercely,” they warned.
The communiqué criticized the EPU’s track record, alleging that the group’s recklessness has contributed to the collapse of key investments in Eket, such as Qua River Hotel, Qua Steel Company, Dr Pepper Bottling Company, and Mobil Pegasus Football Club.
“Today, Eket lies prostrate, with nothing working due to their recalcitrant behaviour. Now they want to export that failure to Ibeno. We will not allow it,” the group stated.
They accused the EPU of undermining the governor’s efforts to rebuild Eket and revive key projects such as the Qua River Hotel and the Chinese Market, claiming the group is instead “manufacturing fake history, issuing threats, and fanning the embers of disunity.”
According to the communiqué, “EPU is deliberately creating an unhealthy environment for investment in Akwa Ibom. This is the height of irresponsibility and must be stopped.”
The Ibeno leaders urged Governor Eno to disregard EPU’s claims, describing them as the actions of “restive opportunists seeking relevance.”
“Ownership of Stubbs Creek is not in dispute. The only people manufacturing a crisis out of nothing are the EPU and their cohorts, who are known for chaos and land disputes,” the statement read.
They issued a stern warning: “We have fought and won many battles to preserve our existence. Our silence must not be mistaken for cowardice. If pushed to the wall, the centre will not hold. We will defend our sovereignty with the last drop of our blood.”
“As a peace-loving people, we will not surrender one inch of our land to usurpers. Stubbs Creek belongs to Ibeno,yesterday, today, and forever. EPU should mind their business and stop dancing naked in the marketplace of public shame.”
