Disputed Forest Reserve: Akwa Ibom Oil Community Accuses CSO of Inciting Violence

The paramount ruler of Ibeno, His Royal Majesty, Effiong Achianga

As tensions escalate between the oil-producing Ekid and Ibeno ethnic nationalities over ownership of the disputed Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, a member of the Ibeno Traditional Rulers Council, Chief Udofia Okon Udofia, has issued a stern warning to external parties to desist from further interference.

Our correspondent gathered that Mr. Matthew Koffi Okono, Convener of the Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation (OFCHF), has been accused of fueling unrest by allegedly siding with the Ekid community. Chief Udofia, however, insisted that Stubbs Creek “belongs to Ibeno by history, law, and geography.”

In an interview on Sunday at Upenekang, headquarters of the Ibeno Local Government Area, the traditional ruler—who also serves as Secretary of the Ibeno Clan Council (ICC)—condemned what he described as inflammatory propaganda by the CSO.

He warned that such actions could further destabilize the already fragile peace in Akwa Ibom’s oil-rich belt.

He called on the National Boundary Commission (NBC), the state government, and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently to prevent an ethnic crisis.

“The CSO led by Mr. Okono, masquerading as a legitimate advocacy group, is nothing more than a desperate front for certain Ekid interests attempting to rewrite history through lies, theatrics, and manipulation,” Udofia said.

He further claimed that the organisation is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and therefore lacks legal standing.

“Ekid has failed—and will continue to fail—to produce a single certified map, court judgment, or official document validating any ownership claim over Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve. Instead, they rely on dubious proxies and unverified narratives to mislead the public,” he stated.

Chief Udofia dismissed historical claims presented by the Ekid community, particularly the supposed 1916 or 1918 court rulings, as misrepresentations. According to him, those cases were internal Ibeno disputes over fishing rights, not land ownership.

“No court, including the British Privy Council, has ever awarded Stubbs Creek to Ekid. If such a ruling exists, we challenge them to present it—publicly and to the state’s proposed peace committee,” he said.

He also criticized the Ekid community’s reliance on the 1993 Akpata Commission report, describing it as misleading and legally insignificant.

“That report was purely advisory and has never been gazetted or upheld by any competent Nigerian court as a legitimate basis for land ownership,” he explained.

According to Chief Udofia, authoritative sources—including British colonial maps dating back to 1893 and official Nigerian government gazettes—clearly situate Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve within Ibeno territory.

“From the geography, oil infrastructure, and administrative boundaries, everything affirms that Stubbs Creek lies within Ibeno. Our people have historically occupied and administered the area from the Qua Iboe River to Atabrikang, including the Atlantic shoreline bordering the reserve. Every credible map and legal instrument supports this.”he stated.

He accused the Ekid community of employing increasingly desperate tactics, including invoking religious symbolism, engaging in ritual performances, and exploiting political channels to gain public sympathy.

“From bringing in religious groups and self-styled prophetesses like Princess Godknow Udoito to engaging in attacks and lobbying traditional institutions, their actions only reveal the lack of substance behind their claims.”he said .

Chief Udofia also condemned attempts to politicize the issue by accusing the governor of partiality for not forcibly acquiring land on Ekid’s behalf—a demand he described as “both illegal and provocative.”

“Let it be clear that our patience should not be mistaken for weakness. We have remained peaceful in the face of provocation, killings, and brutality. But we will not allow our ancestral heritage to be undermined by opportunists.”he added .

He reiterated the community’s call for an impartial resolution based on credible historical and legal documentation.

“We urge the National Boundary Commission, the state government, and all stakeholders to rely solely on verifiable pre-colonial and colonial-era records—not fabricated narratives disseminated by a fraudulent NGO with no CAC registration,” he said.